diff --git a/src/dynamic_graph/sot/dynamic_pinocchio/humanoid_robot.py b/src/dynamic_graph/sot/dynamic_pinocchio/humanoid_robot.py
index dd494d1c6302e381cebde732bfdfcadf375e577d..b71df4a4ddfdec44dcc168ed4c3eb92cd28e8a4f 100755
--- a/src/dynamic_graph/sot/dynamic_pinocchio/humanoid_robot.py
+++ b/src/dynamic_graph/sot/dynamic_pinocchio/humanoid_robot.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class AbstractRobot(ABC):
             urdfFile = urdfPath
         if urdfDir is None:
             import os
-            urdfDir = os.environ["ROS_PACKAGE_PATH"].split(':')
+            urdfDir = os.environ.get("ROS_PACKAGE_PATH", "").split(':')
         if rootJointType is None:
             self.pinocchioModel = pinocchio.buildModelFromUrdf(urdfFile)
         else: