diff --git a/passbook/lib/config.py b/passbook/lib/config.py
index 528ca91bf..d4d9cb39f 100644
--- a/passbook/lib/config.py
+++ b/passbook/lib/config.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class ConfigLoader:
             root = root.get(sub, None)
         # Walk each component of the path
         for comp in path.split(sep):
-            if comp in root:
+            if root and comp in root:
                 root = root.get(comp)
             else:
                 return default