diff --git a/codesectools/datasets/BenchmarkJava/dataset.py b/codesectools/datasets/BenchmarkJava/dataset.py
index ec25095..1dd192a 100644
--- a/codesectools/datasets/BenchmarkJava/dataset.py
+++ b/codesectools/datasets/BenchmarkJava/dataset.py
@@ -148,16 +148,17 @@ def load_dataset(self) -> list[TestCode]:
         for row in reader:
             filename = f"{row[0]}.java"
             filepath = testcode_dir / filename
-            content = filepath.read_text()
-            cwes = [CWEs.from_id(int(row[3]))]
-            has_vuln = True if row[2] == "true" else False
-            files.append(
-                TestCode(
-                    filepath.relative_to(self.directory),
-                    content,
-                    cwes,
-                    has_vuln,
+            if filepath.is_file():
+                content = filepath.read_text()
+                cwes = [CWEs.from_id(int(row[3]))]
+                has_vuln = True if row[2] == "true" else False
+                files.append(
+                    TestCode(
+                        filepath.relative_to(self.directory),
+                        content,
+                        cwes,
+                        has_vuln,
+                    )
                 )
-            )
 
         return files
diff --git a/codesectools/datasets/core/dataset.py b/codesectools/datasets/core/dataset.py
index 97ed03e..e582023 100644
--- a/codesectools/datasets/core/dataset.py
+++ b/codesectools/datasets/core/dataset.py
@@ -57,12 +57,17 @@ def __init__(self, lang: str | None = None) -> None:
         """
         self.directory = USER_CACHE_DIR / self.name
         self.lang = lang
+        self._files = []
         if self.lang:
             self.full_name = f"{self.name}_{self.lang}"
             assert self.full_name in self.list_dataset_full_names()
-            self.files: list[File] = self.load_dataset()
-        else:
-            self.files = []
+
+    @property
+    def files(self) -> list:
+        """Get the list of dataset files, loading them if necessary."""
+        if self.lang:
+            self._files = self.load_dataset()
+        return self._files
 
     @classmethod
     def is_cached(cls) -> bool:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 168d496..a997f14 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "CodeSecTools"
-version = "0.12.2"
+version = "0.12.4"
 description = "A framework for code security that provides abstractions for static analysis tools and datasets to support their integration, testing, and evaluation."
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "AGPL-3.0-only"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 4eff334..de3b98f 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "codesectools"
-version = "0.12.2"
+version = "0.12.4"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "gitpython" },