diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/workflows.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/workflows.py
index 51d21275bcc..7a03f34b8be 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/workflows.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/workflows.py
@@ -552,7 +552,8 @@ class WorkflowsAPIController(BaseAPIController, UsesStoredWorkflowMixin, UsesAnn
                     if (trans.security.decode_id(id) in entries):
                         trans.get_user().stored_workflow_menu_entries.remove(entries[trans.security.decode_id(id)])
             # set tags
-            trans.app.tag_handler.set_tags_from_list(user=trans.user, item=stored_workflow, new_tags_list=workflow_dict.get('tags', []))
+            if 'tags' in workflow_dict:
+                trans.app.tag_handler.set_tags_from_list(user=trans.user, item=stored_workflow, new_tags_list=workflow_dict['tags'])
 
             if 'steps' in workflow_dict:
                 try: