diff --git a/src/Task.cpp b/src/Task.cpp
index eda9f9371..7efe845b2 100644
--- a/src/Task.cpp
+++ b/src/Task.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,9 @@ void Task::remove (const std::string& name)
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 Task::status Task::getStatus () const
 {
+  if (! has ("status"))
+    return Task::pending;
+
   return textToStatus (get ("status"));
 }