diff --git a/test/py/tests/test_env.py b/test/py/tests/test_env.py
index 22a22d1d538b4f0715a025e9ed224f8f3870ce00..035dbf5cac4c1d5c340214b58b9e5d52a0378de1 100644
--- a/test/py/tests/test_env.py
+++ b/test/py/tests/test_env.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class StateTestEnv(object):
             Nothing.
         """
 
-        if self.u_boot_console.config.buildconfig['config_version_variable'] == 'y':
+        if self.u_boot_console.config.buildconfig.get(
+                'config_version_variable', 'n') == 'y':
             with self.u_boot_console.disable_check('main_signon'):
                 response = self.u_boot_console.run_command('printenv')
         else: