diff --git a/src/c3nav/api/middleware.py b/src/c3nav/api/middleware.py
index 1356541b..995d9fbc 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/api/middleware.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/api/middleware.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class JsonRequestBodyMiddleware:
         self.get_response = get_response
 
     def __call__(self, request):
-        is_json = request.META.get('CONTENT_TYPE').lower() == 'application/json'
+        is_json = request.META.get('CONTENT_TYPE', '').lower() == 'application/json'
         if is_json:
             try:
                 request.json_body = json.loads(request.body)