diff --git a/screening/source/core-plugins/screening/4/dss/drop-boxes/hcs-dropbox/hcs-dropbox.py b/screening/source/core-plugins/screening/4/dss/drop-boxes/hcs-dropbox/hcs-dropbox.py
index 160060fa6c3f5a484c49ed2f66fd8fa8c458a1d3..a886248c4d8f5592888a9eadfa87b69676ed9ff4 100644
--- a/screening/source/core-plugins/screening/4/dss/drop-boxes/hcs-dropbox/hcs-dropbox.py
+++ b/screening/source/core-plugins/screening/4/dss/drop-boxes/hcs-dropbox/hcs-dropbox.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def create_experiment_if_needed(transaction):
     
 def create_plate_if_needed(transaction):
     """ Get the specified sample or register it if necessary """
-    if transaction.serverInformation['project-samples-enabled'] == 'true':
+    if transaction.serverInformation.get('project-samples-enabled') == 'true':
         plate_id = PLATE_ID_WITH_PROJECT
     else:
         plate_id = PLATE_ID