diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/wallet/askar.py b/aries_cloudagent/wallet/askar.py
index d0ade2508d..bf024ab99d 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/wallet/askar.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/wallet/askar.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ async def create_key(
         if kid:
             tags = {"kid": kid}
         else:
-            tags = None
+            tags = {}
 
         try:
             keypair = _create_keypair(key_type, seed)
@@ -192,8 +192,10 @@ async def get_signing_key(self, verkey: str) -> KeyInfo:
         if not key:
             raise WalletNotFoundError("Unknown key: {}".format(verkey))
         metadata = json.loads(key.metadata or "{}")
+
+        kid = key.tags.get("kid")
+
         # FIXME implement key types
-        kid = key.tags["kid"] if "kid" in key.tags else None
         return KeyInfo(verkey=verkey, metadata=metadata, key_type=ED25519, kid=kid)
 
     async def replace_signing_key_metadata(self, verkey: str, metadata: dict):