diff --git a/scripts/simplify_network.py b/scripts/simplify_network.py
index 17c23a43..6e12e5e8 100644
--- a/scripts/simplify_network.py
+++ b/scripts/simplify_network.py
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     busmaps = [trafo_map, simplify_links_map, stub_map]
 
-    if snakemake.config['clustering']['simplify']['to_substations']:
+    if snakemake.config.get('clustering', {}).get('simplify', {}).get('to_substations', False):
         n, substation_map = aggregate_to_substations(n)
         busmaps.append(substation_map)