diff --git a/salt/returners/couchbase_return.py b/salt/returners/couchbase_return.py
index 972d7afb6b..000fe6e03b 100644
--- a/salt/returners/couchbase_return.py
+++ b/salt/returners/couchbase_return.py
@@ -265,9 +265,12 @@ def get_load(jid):
     except couchbase.exceptions.NotFoundError:
         return {}
 
-    ret = jid_doc.value['load']
-    if 'minions' in jid_doc.value:
+    ret = {}
+    try:
+        ret = jid_doc.value['load']
         ret['Minions'] = jid_doc.value['minions']
+    except KeyError as e:
+        log.error(e)
 
     return ret