diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
index 164d1e2c0..2a978e7ef 100755
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
@@ -324,16 +324,19 @@ class HotController(FixListing, ListingController):
                                  max_num = self.listing_obj.max_num,
                                  max_score = self.listing_obj.max_score).listing()
 
-            has_subscribed = c.user.has_subscribed
-            promo_visible = promote.is_promo(s.lookup[vislink])
-            if not promo_visible:
-                prob = g.live_config['spotlight_interest_sub_p'
-                                     if has_subscribed else
-                                     'spotlight_interest_nosub_p']
-                if random.random() < prob:
-                    bar = InterestBar(has_subscribed)
-                    s.spotlight_items.insert(pos, bar)
-                    s.visible_item = bar
+            if vislink not in s.lookup:
+                g.log.error("spotlight vislink skipped by builder: %s" % vislink)
+            else:
+                has_subscribed = c.user.has_subscribed
+                promo_visible = promote.is_promo(s.lookup[vislink])
+                if not promo_visible:
+                    prob = g.live_config['spotlight_interest_sub_p'
+                                         if has_subscribed else
+                                         'spotlight_interest_nosub_p']
+                    if random.random() < prob:
+                        bar = InterestBar(has_subscribed)
+                        s.spotlight_items.insert(pos, bar)
+                        s.visible_item = bar
 
             if len(s.things) > 0:
                 # only pass through a listing if the links made it