diff --git a/monero/backends/jsonrpc.py b/monero/backends/jsonrpc.py
index b7e2caf..e97fb9e 100644
--- a/monero/backends/jsonrpc.py
+++ b/monero/backends/jsonrpc.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class JSONRPCDaemon(object):
     def get_mempool(self):
         res = self.raw_request('/get_transaction_pool', {})
         txs = []
-        for tx in res['transactions']:
+        for tx in res.get('transactions', []):
             txs.append(Transaction(
                 hash=tx['id_hash'],
                 fee=from_atomic(tx['fee']),