diff --git a/superset/utils.py b/superset/utils.py
index 483058e78f..79b1ee4fa0 100644
--- a/superset/utils.py
+++ b/superset/utils.py
@@ -724,13 +724,13 @@ def to_adhoc(filt, expressionType='SIMPLE', clause='where'):
 
     if expressionType == 'SIMPLE':
         result.update({
-            'comparator': filt['val'],
-            'operator': filt['op'],
-            'subject': filt['col'],
+            'comparator': filt.get('val'),
+            'operator': filt.get('op'),
+            'subject': filt.get('col'),
         })
     elif expressionType == 'SQL':
         result.update({
-            'sqlExpression': filt[clause],
+            'sqlExpression': filt.get(clause),
         })
 
     return result