diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index 6ec30d7921..6c155fcf4f 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -1472,7 +1472,7 @@ class JobSerializer(UnifiedJobSerializer, JobOptionsSerializer):
             ret['job_template'] = None
 
         if obj.job_template and obj.job_template.survey_enabled:
-            if ret['extra_vars']:
+            if 'extra_vars' in ret:
                 try:
                     extra_vars = json.loads(ret['extra_vars'])
                     for key in obj.job_template.survey_password_variables():