diff --git a/src/crewai/project/crew_base.py b/src/crewai/project/crew_base.py
index e94be4ac2..154b094c7 100644
--- a/src/crewai/project/crew_base.py
+++ b/src/crewai/project/crew_base.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import inspect
-import yaml
 import os
-
 from pathlib import Path
-from pydantic import ConfigDict
 
+import yaml
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from pydantic import ConfigDict
 
 load_dotenv()
 
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@ load_dotenv()
 def CrewBase(cls):
     class WrappedClass(cls):
         model_config = ConfigDict(arbitrary_types_allowed=True)
-        is_crew_class: bool = True
+        is_crew_class: bool = True  # type: ignore
 
         base_directory = None
         for frame_info in inspect.stack():
diff --git a/src/crewai/tools/agent_tools.py b/src/crewai/tools/agent_tools.py
index 9c41efd6b..7598e9040 100644
--- a/src/crewai/tools/agent_tools.py
+++ b/src/crewai/tools/agent_tools.py
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ class AgentTools(BaseModel):
     ):
         """Useful to delegate a specific task to a co-worker passing all necessary context and names."""
         coworker = coworker or kwargs.get("co_worker") or kwargs.get("co-worker")
-        is_list = coworker.startswith("[") and coworker.endswith("]")
-        if is_list:
-            coworker = coworker[1:-1].split(",")[0]
+        if coworker is not None:
+            is_list = coworker.startswith("[") and coworker.endswith("]")
+            if is_list:
+                coworker = coworker[1:-1].split(",")[0]
         return self._execute(coworker, task, context)
 
     def ask_question(
@@ -48,9 +49,10 @@ class AgentTools(BaseModel):
     ):
         """Useful to ask a question, opinion or take from a co-worker passing all necessary context and names."""
         coworker = coworker or kwargs.get("co_worker") or kwargs.get("co-worker")
-        is_list = coworker.startswith("[") and coworker.endswith("]")
-        if is_list:
-            coworker = coworker[1:-1].split(",")[0]
+        if coworker is not None:
+            is_list = coworker.startswith("[") and coworker.endswith("]")
+            if is_list:
+                coworker = coworker[1:-1].split(",")[0]
         return self._execute(coworker, question, context)
 
     def _execute(self, agent, task, context):