diff --git a/extensions/openpower-pels/registry.cpp b/extensions/openpower-pels/registry.cpp
index 3f4462f..2c66e0f 100644
--- a/extensions/openpower-pels/registry.cpp
+++ b/extensions/openpower-pels/registry.cpp
@@ -221,8 +221,13 @@
         }
 
         auto attributes = word.value();
+
+        // Use an empty string for the description if it does not exist.
+        auto itr = attributes.find("Description");
+        std::string desc = (attributes.end() != itr) ? *itr : "";
+
         std::tuple<std::string, std::string> adPropSourceDesc(
-            attributes["AdditionalDataPropSource"], attributes["Description"]);
+            attributes["AdditionalDataPropSource"], desc);
         hexwordFields[wordNum] = std::move(adPropSourceDesc);
     }