diff --git a/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret.go b/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret.go
index f4708399..efb504c3 100644
--- a/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret.go
+++ b/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret.go
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ func (sd *secretDecoder) processJson(jsn string, rawPrint bool) (string, error)
 		return "", err
 	}
 
-	data := result["data"].(map[string]interface{})
+	data, valid := result["data"].(map[string]interface{})
+	if !valid {
+		return "", errors.New("unable to decode secret, does it have a data key?")
+	}
 
 	err = decodeKeys(data)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret_test.go b/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret_test.go
index 9d572154..ed626e7d 100644
--- a/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret_test.go
+++ b/pkg/decodeSecret/decodeSecret_test.go
@@ -106,4 +106,17 @@ func TestFormatJson(t *testing.T) {
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Expected error and received nil")
 	}
+
+}
+
+func TestJsonNoDataKey(t *testing.T) {
+	jsn := `{ "key1": "1", "key2": "2" }`
+	sd := secretDecoder{}
+	_, err := sd.processJson(jsn, false)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Expected an error when no data key is present")
+	}
+	if err.Error() != "unable to decode secret, does it have a data key?" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected error message 'unable to decode secret, does it have a data key?', got '%s'", err.Error())
+	}
 }