diff --git a/dstat_interface/plugin.py b/dstat_interface/plugin.py
index 9fb6d2bf141c55c5e4b63e1b490e632e09435a8b..ce8e9f70a3307cab576a1a4b08304c41844673f2 100644
--- a/dstat_interface/plugin.py
+++ b/dstat_interface/plugin.py
@@ -101,8 +101,9 @@ class DstatPlugin(ZmqPlugin):
         data = decode_content_data(request)
         self.parent.statusbar.push(self.parent.message_context_id, "µDrop "
                                    "acquisition requested.")
-        return self.parent.run_active_experiment(metadata=data['metadata'])
-        
+        return self.parent.run_active_experiment(metadata=data
+                                                 .get('metadata'))
+
     def on_execute__set_metadata(self, request=None):
         '''
         Args