diff --git a/histogrammar/util.py b/histogrammar/util.py
index bb6fa37..1645eef 100644
--- a/histogrammar/util.py
+++ b/histogrammar/util.py
@@ -53,12 +53,18 @@ class PlotMethod(object):
     def __init__(self, container, plot):
         self.container = container
         self.plot = plot
-        if hasattr(container, "plotroot"):
+        try:
             self.root = container.plotroot
-        if hasattr(container, "plotbokeh"):
+        except (AttributeError, KeyError):
+            pass
+        try:
             self.bokeh = container.plotbokeh
-        if hasattr(container, "plotmatplotlib"):
+        except (AttributeError, KeyError):
+            pass
+        try:
             self.matplotlib = container.plotmatplotlib
+        except (AttributeError, KeyError):
+            pass
     def __call__(self, *args, **kwds):
         return self.plot(*args, **kwds)