diff --git a/cassandra/metadata.py b/cassandra/metadata.py
index 655446dd..1a0a76bd 100644
--- a/cassandra/metadata.py
+++ b/cassandra/metadata.py
@@ -159,8 +159,7 @@ class Metadata(object):
 
         if not cf_results:
             # the table was removed
-            if table in keyspace_meta.tables: 
-                del keyspace_meta.tables[table]
+            keyspace_meta.tables.pop(table, None)
         else:
             assert len(cf_results) == 1
             keyspace_meta.tables[table] = self._build_table_metadata(