diff --git a/datarequest.py b/datarequest.py
index fd81f3252..584b005a5 100644
--- a/datarequest.py
+++ b/datarequest.py
@@ -2228,8 +2228,7 @@ def datamanager_review_emails(ctx, request_id, datarequest_status):
     # Get (source data for) email input parameters
     pm_members          = group.members(ctx, GROUP_PM)
     datamanager_review  = json.loads(datarequest_datamanager_review_get(ctx, request_id))
-    datamanager_remarks = (datamanager_review['datamanager_remarks'] if 'datamanager_remarks' in
-                           datamanager_review else "")
+    datamanager_remarks = datamanager_review.get('datamanager_remarks', '')
     truncated_title     = truncated_title_get(ctx, request_id)
 
     # Send emails
@@ -2302,8 +2301,7 @@ def evaluation_emails(ctx, request_id, datarequest_status):
     researcher_email        = datarequest_owner_get(ctx, request_id)
     cc                      = cc_email_addresses_get(datarequest['contact'])
     evaluation              = json.loads(datarequest_evaluation_get(ctx, request_id))
-    feedback_for_researcher = (evaluation['feedback_for_researcher'] if 'feedback_for_researcher' in
-                               evaluation else "")
+    feedback_for_researcher = evaluation.get('feedback_for_researcher', '')
     pm_email, _             = filter(lambda x: x[0] != "rods", group.members(ctx, GROUP_PM))[0]
     truncated_title         = truncated_title_get(ctx, request_id)
 
diff --git a/groups.py b/groups.py
index e07336e08..ace8473e1 100644
--- a/groups.py
+++ b/groups.py
@@ -406,11 +406,11 @@ def api_group_data(ctx):
         coll_name = "/{}/home/{}".format(user.zone(ctx), group['name'])
 
         group_hierarchy[group['category']][group['subcategory']][group['name']] = {
-            'description': group['description'] if 'description' in group else '',
+            'description': group.get('description', ''),
             'schema_id': group['schema_id'],
-            'expiration_date': group['expiration_date'] if 'expiration_date' in group else '',
-            'data_classification': group['data_classification'] if 'data_classification' in group else '',
-            'creation_date': creation_dates[coll_name] if coll_name in creation_dates else '',
+            'expiration_date': group.get('expiration_date', ''),
+            'data_classification': group.get('data_classification', ''),
+            'creation_date': creation_dates.get(coll_name, ''),
             'members': members
         }
 
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ def rule_group_sram_sync(ctx):
         group_name = group["name"]
         members = group['members'] + group['read']
         managers = group['managers']
-        description = group['description'] if 'description' in group else ''
+        description = group.get('description', '')
 
         log.write(ctx, "Sync group {} with SRAM".format(group_name))