diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 7942daa..663aa93 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ for f in following:
 							#we've caught up to the notices we've already downloaded, so we can stop now
 							#you might be wondering, "lynne, what if the instance ratelimits you after 40 posts, and they've made 60 since main.py was last run? wouldn't the bot miss 20 posts and never be able to see them?" to which i reply, "i know but i don't know how to fix it"
 							done = True
-					if cfg['lang']:
+					if 'lang' in cfg:
 						try:
 							if oi['object']['contentMap'][cfg['lang']]: # filter for language
 								insert_toot(oi, f, toot, c)