diff --git a/meta-phosphor/recipes-phosphor/settings/phosphor-settings-manager/merge_settings.py b/meta-phosphor/recipes-phosphor/settings/phosphor-settings-manager/merge_settings.py
index 68c2437..62a8f4a 100755
--- a/meta-phosphor/recipes-phosphor/settings/phosphor-settings-manager/merge_settings.py
+++ b/meta-phosphor/recipes-phosphor/settings/phosphor-settings-manager/merge_settings.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
         if k in target and isinstance(target[k], dict):
             dict_merge(target[k], v, remove)
         else:
-            if remove is True:
+            if remove is True and k in target:
                 target.pop(k)
             else:
                 target[k] = copy.deepcopy(v)