diff --git a/optimum/exporters/openvino/convert.py b/optimum/exporters/openvino/convert.py
index b1597e60d2..22cbeb68b9 100644
--- a/optimum/exporters/openvino/convert.py
+++ b/optimum/exporters/openvino/convert.py
@@ -194,11 +194,12 @@ def export_pytorch_via_onnx(
     )
     torch.onnx.export = orig_torch_onnx_export
     ov_model = convert_model(str(onnx_output))
+    load_in_8bit = False if model_kwargs is None else model_kwargs.get("load_in_8bit", False)
     _save_model(
         ov_model,
         output.parent / OV_XML_FILE_NAME if output.suffix != ".xml" else output,
         compress_to_fp16=False,
-        load_in_8bit=model_kwargs.get("load_in_8bit", False),
+        load_in_8bit=load_in_8bit,
     )
     return input_names, output_names, True
 
@@ -326,7 +327,8 @@ def ts_patched_forward(*args, **kwargs):
             inp_tensor.get_node().set_partial_shape(static_shape)
             inp_tensor.get_node().set_element_type(get_element_type(inp_data.cpu().numpy().dtype))
         ov_model.validate_nodes_and_infer_types()
-        _save_model(ov_model, output, compress_to_fp16=False, load_in_8bit=model_kwargs.get("load_in_8bit", False))
+        load_in_8bit = False if model_kwargs is None else model_kwargs.get("load_in_8bit", False)
+        _save_model(ov_model, output, compress_to_fp16=False, load_in_8bit=load_in_8bit)
         clear_class_registry()
         del model
         gc.collect()