diff --git a/minari/cli.py b/minari/cli.py
index 1573213e..1f1da582 100644
--- a/minari/cli.py
+++ b/minari/cli.py
@@ -36,16 +36,19 @@ def _show_dataset_table(datasets, table_title):
     table.add_column("Email", justify="left", style="magenta")
 
     for dst_metadata in datasets.values():
+        author = dst_metadata.get("author", "Unknown")
+        author_email = dst_metadata.get("author_email", "Unknown")
+
         assert isinstance(dst_metadata["dataset_id"], str)
-        assert isinstance(dst_metadata["author"], str)
-        assert isinstance(dst_metadata["author_email"], str)
+        assert isinstance(author, str)
+        assert isinstance(author_email, str)
         table.add_row(
             dst_metadata["dataset_id"],
             str(dst_metadata["total_episodes"]),
             str(dst_metadata["total_steps"]),
             "Coming soon ...",
-            dst_metadata["author"],
-            dst_metadata["author_email"],
+            author,
+            author_email,
         )
 
     print(table)
diff --git a/minari/storage/local.py b/minari/storage/local.py
index e5ecb6d6..dd5bfdec 100644
--- a/minari/storage/local.py
+++ b/minari/storage/local.py
@@ -59,8 +59,9 @@ def list_local_datasets(
         main_file_path = os.path.join(datasets_path, dst_id, "data/main_data.hdf5")
         with h5py.File(main_file_path, "r") as f:
             metadata = dict(f.attrs.items())
-            if compatible_minari_version and __version__ not in SpecifierSet(
-                metadata["minari_version"]
+            if ("minari_version" not in metadata) or (
+                compatible_minari_version
+                and __version__ not in SpecifierSet(metadata["minari_version"])
             ):
                 continue
             env_name, dataset_name, version = parse_dataset_id(dst_id)
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..70e1232b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import pytest
+from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+from minari.cli import app
+from minari.storage.local import delete_dataset, list_local_datasets
+from tests.dataset.test_dataset_download import get_latest_compatible_dataset_id
+
+
+runner = CliRunner()
+
+
+def test_list():
+    # local test
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["list", "local", "--all"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+
+    # some of the other columns may be cut off by Rich
+    assert "Name" in result.stdout
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["list", "remote"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "dataset_id",
+    [get_latest_compatible_dataset_id(env_name="pen", dataset_name="human")],
+)
+def test_dataset_download_then_delete(dataset_id: str):
+    """test download dataset invocation from CLI.
+    the downloading functionality is already tested in test_dataset_download.py so this is primarily to assert that the CLI is working as expected.
+    """
+
+    # might have to clear up the local dataset first.
+    # ideally this seems like it could just be handled by the tests
+    if dataset_id in list_local_datasets():
+        delete_dataset(dataset_id)
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["download", dataset_id])
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert f"Downloading {dataset_id} from Farama servers..." in result.stdout
+    assert f"Dataset {dataset_id} downloaded to" in result.stdout
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["delete", dataset_id], input="n")
+    assert result.exit_code == 1  # aborted but no error
+    assert "Aborted" in result.stdout
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["delete", dataset_id], input="😳")
+    assert result.exit_code == 1
+    assert "Error: invalid input" in result.stdout
+
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["delete", dataset_id], input="y")
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert f"Dataset {dataset_id} deleted!" in result.stdout