diff --git a/src/wolfgame.py b/src/wolfgame.py
index 74e2420..6402db1 100644
--- a/src/wolfgame.py
+++ b/src/wolfgame.py
@@ -5925,7 +5925,7 @@ def relay(cli, nick, chan, rest):
     if var.PHASE not in ("night", "day"):
         return
 
-    if nick in var.list_players() and nick in var.IDLE_WARNED_PM:
+    if nick in var.list_players() and nick in getattr(var, "IDLE_WARNED_PM", ()):
         cli.msg(nick, ("\u0002You have been idling in {0} for a while. Please say something in {0} "
                        "or you will be declared dead.\u0002").format(botconfig.CHANNEL))
         var.IDLE_WARNED_PM.add(nick)