diff --git a/nest/utils.py b/nest/utils.py
index 5e96a95..86b09b1 100644
--- a/nest/utils.py
+++ b/nest/utils.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ def unpack_incoming_response_from_nest(message):
     _s = message.split(b'#')
     final_length = int(_s[0])
     message = json.loads(message[len(str(final_length))+1:].decode())
-    return message['err'], message['response']
+
+    return message.get('err'), message.get('response')
 
 
 def pack_outgoing_message_to_client(response, message_id, err=None):