diff --git a/code/zato-cli/src/zato/cli/enmasse.py b/code/zato-cli/src/zato/cli/enmasse.py
index e8608039b2..39b107a74b 100644
--- a/code/zato-cli/src/zato/cli/enmasse.py
+++ b/code/zato-cli/src/zato/cli/enmasse.py
@@ -2449,7 +2449,7 @@ def write_output(
 
         # .. if there are no generic connections left at this point, this key can be deleted ..
         if not to_write.get('zato_generic_connection'):
-            _ = to_write.pop('zato_generic_connection')
+            _ = to_write.pop('zato_generic_connection', None)
 
         # .. this lets us move individual keys around ..
         to_write = OrderedDict(to_write)