diff --git a/openhands/app_server/sandbox/remote_sandbox_service.py b/openhands/app_server/sandbox/remote_sandbox_service.py
index 076c478478..ef60724d9a 100644
--- a/openhands/app_server/sandbox/remote_sandbox_service.py
+++ b/openhands/app_server/sandbox/remote_sandbox_service.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class RemoteSandboxService(SandboxService):
             return SandboxStatus.MISSING
 
         status = None
-        pod_status = runtime['pod_status'].lower()
+        pod_status = (runtime.get('pod_status') or '').lower()
         if pod_status:
             status = POD_STATUS_MAPPING.get(pod_status, None)