diff --git a/glance/common/property_utils.py b/glance/common/property_utils.py
index c9befa88dd..473440bb8a 100644
--- a/glance/common/property_utils.py
+++ b/glance/common/property_utils.py
@@ -134,7 +134,10 @@ class PropertyRules(object):
             compiled_rule = self._compile_rule(property_exp)
 
             for operation in operations:
-                permissions = CONFIG.get(property_exp, operation)
+                try:
+                    permissions = CONFIG.get(property_exp, operation)
+                except configparser.NoOptionError:
+                    raise InvalidPropProtectConf()
                 if permissions:
                     if self.prop_prot_rule_format == 'policies':
                         if ',' in permissions: