diff --git a/app/models/broadcast_message.py b/app/models/broadcast_message.py
index 247edc478..3a180dba2 100644
--- a/app/models/broadcast_message.py
+++ b/app/models/broadcast_message.py
@@ -99,10 +99,15 @@ class BroadcastMessage(JSONModel):
                 )
             return library_areas
 
-        return CustomBroadcastAreas(
-            names=self._dict['areas']['names'],
-            polygons=self._dict['areas']['simple_polygons'],
-        )
+        polygons = self._dict['areas'].get('simple_polygons', [])
+
+        if polygons:
+            return CustomBroadcastAreas(
+                names=self._dict['areas']['names'],
+                polygons=polygons,
+            )
+
+        return []
 
     @property
     def area_ids(self):
diff --git a/tests/app/models/test_broadcast_message.py b/tests/app/models/test_broadcast_message.py
index 423bf2db2..025cd24f1 100644
--- a/tests/app/models/test_broadcast_message.py
+++ b/tests/app/models/test_broadcast_message.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ def test_content_comes_from_attribute_not_template():
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(('areas', 'expected_length'), [
     ({'ids': []}, 0),
     ({'ids': ['wd20-E05009372']}, 1),
+    ({'no data': 'just created'}, 0),
     ({'names': ['somewhere'], 'simple_polygons': [[[3.5, 1.5]]]}, 1)
 ])
 def test_areas(