diff --git a/lib/core/common.py b/lib/core/common.py
index b9b51c2e0..7cf4f3e41 100644
--- a/lib/core/common.py
+++ b/lib/core/common.py
@@ -2747,7 +2747,7 @@ def unhandledExceptionMessage():
     errMsg += "Python version: %s\n" % PYVERSION
     errMsg += "Operating system: %s\n" % PLATFORM
     errMsg += "Command line: %s\n" % " ".join(sys.argv)
-    errMsg += "Technique: %s\n" % (enumValueToNameLookup(PAYLOAD.TECHNIQUE, kb.technique) if kb.get("technique") else ("DIRECT" if conf.direct else None))
+    errMsg += "Technique: %s\n" % (enumValueToNameLookup(PAYLOAD.TECHNIQUE, kb.technique) if kb.get("technique") else ("DIRECT" if conf.get("direct") else None))
     errMsg += "Back-end DBMS: %s" % ("%s (fingerprinted)" % Backend.getDbms() if Backend.getDbms() is not None else "%s (identified)" % Backend.getIdentifiedDbms())
 
     return maskSensitiveData(errMsg)