diff --git a/patacrep/songs/__init__.py b/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
index c1af76e7..cbc5d9aa 100644
--- a/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
+++ b/patacrep/songs/__init__.py
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class Song:
             ]
         self.authors = process_listauthors(
             self.authors,
-            **config["_compiled_authwords"]
+            **config.get("_compiled_authwords", {})
             )
 
         # Cache management
diff --git a/patacrep/songs/chordpro/test/test_parser.py b/patacrep/songs/chordpro/test/test_parser.py
index 669610a9..394e9966 100644
--- a/patacrep/songs/chordpro/test/test_parser.py
+++ b/patacrep/songs/chordpro/test/test_parser.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class TestParsingRendering(unittest.TestCase):
         config = DEFAULT_CONFIG.copy()
         config.update({
             'encoding': 'utf8',
-            '_compiled_authwords': {},
             })
         for source in sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(
                 os.path.dirname(__file__),