diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/nuke/plugins/publish/validate_exposed_knobs.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/nuke/plugins/publish/validate_exposed_knobs.py
index 9111bcdc2c..c047347481 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/nuke/plugins/publish/validate_exposed_knobs.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/nuke/plugins/publish/validate_exposed_knobs.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def process(self, instance):
         group_node = instance.data["transientData"]["node"]
         nuke_settings = instance.context.data["project_settings"]["nuke"]
         create_settings = nuke_settings["create"][plugin]
-        exposed_knobs = create_settings["exposed_knobs"]
+        exposed_knobs = create_settings.get("exposed_knobs", [])
         unexposed_knobs = []
         for knob in exposed_knobs:
             if knob not in group_node.knobs():