# Non-existing field in the document in MVEL script causes exception even after containsKey check
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/non-existing-field-in-the-document-in-mvel-script-causes-exception-even-after-containskey-check/12198
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [May 31, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/non-existing-field-in-the-document-in-mvel-script-causes-exception-even-after-containskey-check/12198 "2013-05-31T04:01:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Amarthya\_Master](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Amarthya_Master)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/non-existing-field-in-the-document-in-mvel-script-causes-exception-even-after-containskey-check/12198/1 "2013-05-31T04:01:55Z")
I have a problem but the solution provided for some earlier posts on the
same issue to use "containsKey" check is not working.
Under custom script, I have this:
"script" : "(doc.containsKey("my\_field") ? doc['my\_field].value : 0)"
This fails on doc['my\_field].value apprently, with the exception:
Query Failed [Failed to execute main query]]; nested:
PropertyAccessException[[Error: could not access: value; in class:
org.elasticsearch.index.fielddata.ScriptDocValues$Empty [Near : {... value
....}]
In the index document mapping i see that my\_field has a valid entry. Is
that the reason why "containsKey" its returning true? The field is
defintely not in my document, which is what causing the issue.
Any way I could make the script work?
Greatly appreciate any help.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 6, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/non-existing-field-in-the-document-in-mvel-script-causes-exception-even-after-containskey-check/12198/2 "2017-07-06T02:33:45Z")