diff --git a/pgcli/main.py b/pgcli/main.py
index cc3d58c4..080b2fd2 100644
--- a/pgcli/main.py
+++ b/pgcli/main.py
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ class PGCli(object):
     def echo_via_pager(self, text, color=None):
         if self.pgspecial.pager_config == PAGER_OFF or self.watch_command:
             click.echo(text, color=color)
-        elif "pspg" in os.environ["PAGER"] and self.table_format == "csv":
+        elif "pspg" in os.environ.get("PAGER", "") and self.table_format == "csv":
             click.echo_via_pager(text, color)
         elif self.pgspecial.pager_config == PAGER_LONG_OUTPUT:
             lines = text.split("\n")