diff --git a/pelican/settings.py b/pelican/settings.py
index ff5f4ce4..59f1354f 100644
--- a/pelican/settings.py
+++ b/pelican/settings.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def configure_settings(settings):
     # fix up pagination rules
     from pelican.paginator import PaginationRule
     pagination_rules = [
-        PaginationRule(*r) for r in settings['PAGINATION_PATTERNS']
+        PaginationRule(*r) for r in settings.get('PAGINATION_PATTERNS', [])
     ]
     settings['PAGINATION_PATTERNS'] = sorted(
         pagination_rules,