diff --git a/vfioveth b/vfioveth
index 8fb1e5a..c84165d 100755
--- a/vfioveth
+++ b/vfioveth
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 add_pair_ns() {
 	vfpci=$(echo $CNI_CONF | jq -r '.deviceID')
-	mac=$(echo $CNI_CONF | jq -r '.runtimeConfig.mac')
+	mac=$(echo $CNI_CONF | jq -r '.runtimeConfig.mac // empty')
 	if [ -z "$mac" ]; then
 		mac=$(get_mac_with_vfpci $vfpci)
 	fi