diff --git a/src/tools/common/uri.py b/src/tools/common/uri.py
index f1951c44..0dd1abe0 100644
--- a/src/tools/common/uri.py
+++ b/src/tools/common/uri.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def buildXMPPUri(type_, **kwargs):
     uri.append(urllib.quote_plus(path).replace(u'%40', '@'))
 
     if type_ == u'pubsub':
-        if subtype == 'microblog' and not 'node' in kwargs:
+        if subtype == 'microblog' and not kwargs.get('node'):
             kwargs[u'node'] = 'urn:xmpp:microblog:0'
         if kwargs:
             uri.append(u'?')