diff --git a/zetta_utils/db_annotations/layer_group.py b/zetta_utils/db_annotations/layer_group.py
index 846f235fc..6ddcdfd28 100644
--- a/zetta_utils/db_annotations/layer_group.py
+++ b/zetta_utils/db_annotations/layer_group.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def from_dict(layer_group_id: str, raw_dict: Mapping) -> LayerGroupDBEntry:
             created_by=raw_dict["created_by"],
             modified_by=raw_dict.get("modified_by"),
             collection=raw_dict["collection"],
-            layers=raw_dict["layers"],
+            layers=raw_dict.get("layers", []),
         )