diff --git a/python3/vimspector/variables.py b/python3/vimspector/variables.py
index 7e2c9c9..ac19e6b 100644
--- a/python3/vimspector/variables.py
+++ b/python3/vimspector/variables.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class VariablesView( object ):
              old_scopes[ i ][ 'name' ] == scope[ 'name' ] ):
           scope[ '_expanded' ] = old_scopes[ i ].get( '_expanded', False )
           scope[ '_old_variables' ] = old_scopes[ i ].get( '_variables', [] )
-        elif not scope[ 'expensive' ]:
+        elif not scope.get( 'expensive' ):
           # Expand any non-expensive scope unless manually collapsed
           scope[ '_expanded' ] = True