diff --git a/labelme/app.py b/labelme/app.py
index cdb0bef12..dbc0920ee 100644
--- a/labelme/app.py
+++ b/labelme/app.py
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ def loadLabels(self, shapes):
             points = shape["points"]
             shape_type = shape["shape_type"]
             flags = shape["flags"]
-            description = shape["description"]
+            description = shape.get("description", "")
             group_id = shape["group_id"]
             other_data = shape["other_data"]
 
@@ -1349,6 +1349,7 @@ def newShape(self):
             text = items[0].data(Qt.UserRole)
         flags = {}
         group_id = None
+        description = ""
         if self._config["display_label_popup"] or not text:
             previous_text = self.labelDialog.edit.text()
             text, flags, group_id, description = self.labelDialog.popUp(text)
diff --git a/tests/labelme_tests/widgets_tests/test_label_dialog.py b/tests/labelme_tests/widgets_tests/test_label_dialog.py
index 25c66f6e4..ce0ebdb68 100644
--- a/tests/labelme_tests/widgets_tests/test_label_dialog.py
+++ b/tests/labelme_tests/widgets_tests/test_label_dialog.py
@@ -61,10 +61,11 @@ def interact():
         qtbot.keyClick(widget.edit, QtCore.Qt.Key_Enter)  # NOQA
 
     QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(500, interact)
-    label, flags, group_id = widget.popUp("cat")
+    label, flags, group_id, description = widget.popUp("cat")
     assert label == "person"
     assert flags == {}
     assert group_id is None
+    assert description == ""
 
     # popUp()
 
@@ -73,10 +74,11 @@ def interact():
         qtbot.keyClick(widget.edit, QtCore.Qt.Key_Enter)  # NOQA
 
     QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(500, interact)
-    label, flags, group_id = widget.popUp()
+    label, flags, group_id, description = widget.popUp()
     assert label == "person"
     assert flags == {}
     assert group_id is None
+    assert description == ""
 
     # popUp() + key_Up
 
@@ -88,7 +90,8 @@ def interact():
         qtbot.keyClick(widget.edit, QtCore.Qt.Key_Enter)  # NOQA
 
     QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(500, interact)
-    label, flags, group_id = widget.popUp()
+    label, flags, group_id, description = widget.popUp()
     assert label == "dog"
     assert flags == {}
     assert group_id is None
+    assert description == ""