diff --git a/elements/pkg-map/bin/pkg-map b/elements/pkg-map/bin/pkg-map
index 42266155..009f474d 100755
--- a/elements/pkg-map/bin/pkg-map
+++ b/elements/pkg-map/bin/pkg-map
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def main():
 
     map_file = '/usr/share/pkg-map/%s' % args.element
     if not os.path.exists(map_file):
-        if os.environ.get('DIB_DEBUG_TRACE') != '0':
+        if os.environ.get('DIB_DEBUG_TRACE', '0') != '0':
             eprint('Map file for %s element does not exist.' % args.element)
         if args.missing_ok:
             for name in extra: