diff --git a/plinth.py b/plinth.py
index d3311cf51..ef13e593f 100755
--- a/plinth.py
+++ b/plinth.py
@@ -81,8 +81,12 @@ def parse_arguments():
    if args.pidfile:
       cfg.pidfile = args.pidfile
    else:
-      if not cfg.pidfile:
+      try:
+         if not cfg.pidfile:
             cfg.pidfile = "plinth.pid"
+      except AttributeError:
+            cfg.pidfile = "plinth.pid"
+
    if args.listen_exmachina_key:
       # this is where we optionally try to read in a shared secret key to
       # authenticate connections to exmachina