diff --git a/examples/server/api_like_OAI.py b/examples/server/api_like_OAI.py
index ed19237b0..79af1768b 100755
--- a/examples/server/api_like_OAI.py
+++ b/examples/server/api_like_OAI.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ def is_present(json, key):
         buf = json[key]
     except KeyError:
         return False
+    if json[key] == None:
+        return False
     return True