diff --git a/tmtcc.py b/tmtcc.py
index c032291..1e82245 100755
--- a/tmtcc.py
+++ b/tmtcc.py
@@ -165,7 +165,10 @@ def setup_params() -> (SetupWrapper, int):
         post_arg_parsing_wrapper.set_params_with_prompts(proc_param_wrapper)
     else:
         post_arg_parsing_wrapper.set_params_without_prompts(proc_param_wrapper)
-    hk_level = int(post_arg_parsing_wrapper.args_raw.hk)
+    if hasattr(post_arg_parsing_wrapper.args_raw, "hk"):
+        hk_level = int(post_arg_parsing_wrapper.args_raw.hk)
+    else:
+        hk_level = 0
     params.apid = PUS_APID
     if params.com_if is None:
         raise ValueError("could not determine a COM interface.")