diff --git a/api_endpoints/v1_postcode_lookup/upstream_api_client.py b/api_endpoints/v1_postcode_lookup/upstream_api_client.py
index 3db4b28..97335fc 100644
--- a/api_endpoints/v1_postcode_lookup/upstream_api_client.py
+++ b/api_endpoints/v1_postcode_lookup/upstream_api_client.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def clean_ballots(self, ballots):
             ballot.pop("wcivf_url", None)
             ballot.pop("hustings", None)
             ballot.pop("ballot_url", None)
-            if ballot["candidates_verified"]:
+            if ballot.get("candidates_verified", False):
                 ballot["candidates"] = self.clean_candidates(
                     ballot["candidates"]
                 )