diff --git a/server_addon/hiero/client/ayon_hiero/api/plugin.py b/server_addon/hiero/client/ayon_hiero/api/plugin.py
index b9f42a88e0..16eb1d55f3 100644
--- a/server_addon/hiero/client/ayon_hiero/api/plugin.py
+++ b/server_addon/hiero/client/ayon_hiero/api/plugin.py
@@ -550,7 +550,8 @@ class ClipLoader:
         log.debug("__ self.timeline_out: {}".format(self.timeline_out))
 
         # check if slate is included
-        slate_on = "slate" in self.context["version"]["data"]["families"]
+        slate_on = "slate" in self.context["version"]["data"].get(
+            "families", [])
         log.debug("__ slate_on: {}".format(slate_on))
 
         # if slate is on then remove the slate frame from beginning