diff --git a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
index 88bf299e4..a981ccabc 100644
--- a/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
+++ b/beetsplug/web/__init__.py
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ class WebPlugin(BeetsPlugin):
             app.config['JSONIFY_PRETTYPRINT_REGULAR'] = False
 
             app.config['exclude_paths_from_items'] = (
-                self.config['exclude_paths_from_items'])
+                self.config.get('exclude_paths_from_items', True))
 
             # Enable CORS if required.
             if self.config['cors']: