diff --git a/src/e_mod_edgar.c b/src/e_mod_edgar.c
index 415ba09..6f016f8 100644
--- a/src/e_mod_edgar.c
+++ b/src/e_mod_edgar.c
@@ -266,7 +266,8 @@ edgar_gadget_load(const char *name, const char *path)
       gadget->edjefile = NULL;
 
    // read the gadget options dict
-   if ((opts = PyObject_GetAttrString(mod, "__gadget_opts__")))
+   if (PyObject_HasAttrString(mod, "__gadget_opts__") && 
+       (opts = PyObject_GetAttrString(mod, "__gadget_opts__")))
    {
       attr = PyDict_GetItemString(opts, "popup_on_desktop");
       if (attr && PyObject_IsTrue(attr))