diff --git a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/ScatterPlotItem.py b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/ScatterPlotItem.py
index ebff4442..584d455e 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/ScatterPlotItem.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/graphicsItems/ScatterPlotItem.py
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ class ScatterPlotItem(GraphicsObject):
         
         if len(args) == 1 and (isinstance(args[0], np.ndarray) or isinstance(args[0], list)):
             pens = args[0]
-            if kargs['mask'] is not None:
+            if if 'mask' in kargs and kargs['mask'] is not None:
                 pens = pens[kargs['mask']]
             if len(pens) != len(dataSet):
                 raise Exception("Number of pens does not match number of points (%d != %d)" % (len(pens), len(dataSet)))