diff --git a/meson_post_install.py b/meson_post_install.py
index 8d00e70..c28d19e 100644
--- a/meson_post_install.py
+++ b/meson_post_install.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ prefix = environ['MESON_INSTALL_PREFIX']
 data_dir = path.join(prefix, 'share')
 schema_dir = path.join(data_dir, 'glib-2.0', 'schemas')
 
-if not environ['DESTDIR']:
+if not environ.get('DESTDIR'):
     print('Compiling gsettings schemas...')
     call(['glib-compile-schemas', schema_dir])
     print('Updating desktop database...')