diff --git a/salt/returners/redis_return.py b/salt/returners/redis_return.py
index 013170635c..f531d64b58 100644
--- a/salt/returners/redis_return.py
+++ b/salt/returners/redis_return.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _get_serv(ret=None):
 
 
 def _get_ttl():
-    return __opts__['keep_jobs'] * 3600
+    return __opts__.get('keep_jobs', 24) * 3600
 
 
 def returner(ret):