diff --git a/jiracli/cli.py b/jiracli/cli.py
index aa9eb70..90b057a 100644
--- a/jiracli/cli.py
+++ b/jiracli/cli.py
@@ -103,10 +103,8 @@ def version(client):
 @pass_client
 @pass_config
 def issues(config, client, project, components, status, labels, texts, flagged, order, asc, jql):
-    filters_config = config['filters']
-
-    if not project and filters_config and 'default_project' in filters_config:
-        project = filters_config['default_project']
+    if not project and config.has_section('filters') and config.get('filters', 'default_project'):
+        project = config['filters']['default_project']
         project_jql = f"project = {project}"
 
     # TODO add filtering by created since