diff --git a/sdk/python/v1beta1/kubeflow/katib/api/katib_client.py b/sdk/python/v1beta1/kubeflow/katib/api/katib_client.py
index 1f5a9098f40..7978322b27d 100644
--- a/sdk/python/v1beta1/kubeflow/katib/api/katib_client.py
+++ b/sdk/python/v1beta1/kubeflow/katib/api/katib_client.py
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ def create_experiment(
 
         namespace = namespace or self.namespace
 
-        experiment_name = experiment.metadata.name
-        if not experiment_name:
+        if 'name' in experiment.metadata and experiment.metadata.name:
+            experiment_name = experiment.metadata.name
+        else:
             experiment_name = experiment.metadata.generate_name
 
         try: