diff --git a/staffeln/conductor/backup.py b/staffeln/conductor/backup.py
index 519b81c..d5807a4 100755
--- a/staffeln/conductor/backup.py
+++ b/staffeln/conductor/backup.py
@@ -65,12 +65,14 @@
 
     # Backup the volumes attached to which has a specific metadata
     def filter_by_server_metadata(self, metadata):
+        if CONF.conductor.backup_metadata_key is not None:
+            if not CONF.conductor.backup_metadata_key in metadata:
+                return False
 
-        if not CONF.conductor.backup_metadata_key in metadata:
+            return metadata[CONF.conductor.backup_metadata_key].lower() == constants.BACKUP_ENABLED_KEY
+        else:
             return True
 
-        return metadata[CONF.conductor.backup_metadata_key].lower() == constants.BACKUP_ENABLED_KEY
-
     # Backup the volumes in in-use and available status
     def filter_by_volume_status(self, volume_id, project_id):
         try:
diff --git a/staffeln/conf/conductor.py b/staffeln/conf/conductor.py
index d5e3861..69f7fe2 100755
--- a/staffeln/conf/conductor.py
+++ b/staffeln/conf/conductor.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
     ),
     cfg.StrOpt(
         "backup_metadata_key",
-        default="__automated_backup",
         help=_("The key string of metadata the VM, which requres back up, has"),
     ),
 ]