diff --git a/frontends/src/primitivus/contact_list.py b/frontends/src/primitivus/contact_list.py
index 4e65d894..875a79d9 100644
--- a/frontends/src/primitivus/contact_list.py
+++ b/frontends/src/primitivus/contact_list.py
@@ -232,7 +232,9 @@ class ContactList(urwid.WidgetWrap, QuickContactList):
 
         @param contact (str): JID userhost of the contact
         @return: True if that contact should be showed in the list"""
-        return self.getCache(JID(contact), 'show') != "unavailable" or self.show_disconnected or contact in self.alert_jid or contact == self.selected
+        show = self.getCache(JID(contact), 'show')
+        return (show is not None and show != "unavailable") or \
+            self.show_disconnected or contact in self.alert_jid or contact == self.selected
 
     def nonEmptyGroup(self, contacts):
         """Tell if a contact group contains some contacts to show.