diff --git a/lib/puppet/provider/sensu_check/json.rb b/lib/puppet/provider/sensu_check/json.rb
index aad2d4c897..3220b3882b 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/provider/sensu_check/json.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/provider/sensu_check/json.rb
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def interval=(value)
   end
 
   def handlers
-    conf['checks'][resource[:name]]['handlers']
+    conf['checks'][resource[:name]]['handlers'] || []
   end
 
   def handlers=(value)
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def command=(value)
   end
 
   def dependencies
-    conf['checks'][resource[:name]]['dependencies']
+    conf['checks'][resource[:name]]['dependencies'] || []
   end
 
   def dependencies=(value)