diff --git a/tools/interop_matrix/client_matrix.py b/tools/interop_matrix/client_matrix.py
index 9a7c90acd32..ec499a98b61 100644
--- a/tools/interop_matrix/client_matrix.py
+++ b/tools/interop_matrix/client_matrix.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def get_release_tags(lang):
 def get_runtimes_for_lang_release(lang, release):
     """Get list of valid runtimes for given release of lang."""
     runtimes_to_skip = []
-    release_info = LANG_RELEASE_MATRIX[lang][release]
+    release_info = LANG_RELEASE_MATRIX[lang].get(release)
     if release_info:
         runtimes_to_skip = release_info.skip_runtime
     return [
diff --git a/tools/interop_matrix/create_matrix_images.py b/tools/interop_matrix/create_matrix_images.py
index 31a0e1c7ba6..28dc4be0f4d 100755
--- a/tools/interop_matrix/create_matrix_images.py
+++ b/tools/interop_matrix/create_matrix_images.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ atexit.register(cleanup)
 def maybe_apply_patches_on_git_tag(stack_base, lang, release):
     files_to_patch = []
 
-    release_info = client_matrix.LANG_RELEASE_MATRIX[lang][release]
+    release_info = client_matrix.LANG_RELEASE_MATRIX[lang].get(release)
     if release_info:
         files_to_patch = release_info.patch
     if not files_to_patch: