diff --git a/doublethink/services.py b/doublethink/services.py
index 9402519..30e5499 100644
--- a/doublethink/services.py
+++ b/doublethink/services.py
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ class ServiceRegistry(object):
                                 row, candidate),
                             return_changes='always').run()
             new_val = result['changes'][0]['new_val']
-            if all([new_val[k] == candidate[k] for k in candidate
+            if all([new_val.get(k) == candidate[k] for k in candidate
                     if k not in ('first_heartbeat', 'last_heartbeat')]):
                 # candidate is the unique_service, send a heartbeat
                 del candidate['first_heartbeat'] # don't touch first_heartbeat
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 77fa8ee..97641b1 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import codecs
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name='doublethink',
-    version='0.2.0.dev81',
+    version='0.2.0.dev82',
     packages=['doublethink'],
     classifiers=[
         'Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7',