diff --git a/sleekxmpp/basexmpp.py b/sleekxmpp/basexmpp.py
index ab52dfbb..8e5c762a 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/basexmpp.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/basexmpp.py
@@ -643,7 +643,8 @@ class BaseXMPP(XMLStream):
             log.debug("%s %s got offline" % (jid, resource))
             del connections[resource]
 
-            if not connections and not self.roster[jid]['in_roster']:
+            if not connections and \
+               not self.roster[jid].get('in_roster', False):
                 del self.roster[jid]
             if not was_offline:
                 self.event("got_offline", presence)