diff --git a/gallery_dl/util.py b/gallery_dl/util.py
index d1bba5d4..91fa0a61 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/util.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/util.py
@@ -382,11 +382,11 @@ class Formatter():
 
     def _apply(self, key, funcs, fmt):
         def wrap(obj):
-            if key in obj:
+            try:
                 obj = obj[key]
                 for func in funcs:
                     obj = func(obj)
-            else:
+            except Exception:
                 obj = self.default
             return fmt(obj)
         return wrap
diff --git a/test/test_util.py b/test/test_util.py
index 1d5646d4..3a87757a 100644
--- a/test/test_util.py
+++ b/test/test_util.py
@@ -188,11 +188,17 @@ class TestFormatter(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_missing(self):
         replacement = "None"
+
         self._run_test("{missing}", replacement)
         self._run_test("{missing.attr}", replacement)
         self._run_test("{missing[key]}", replacement)
         self._run_test("{missing:?a//}", "")
 
+        self._run_test("{name[missing]}", replacement)
+        self._run_test("{name[missing].attr}", replacement)
+        self._run_test("{name[missing][key]}", replacement)
+        self._run_test("{name[missing]:?a//}", "")
+
     def test_missing_custom_default(self):
         replacement = default = "foobar"
         self._run_test("{missing}"     , replacement, default)