diff --git a/autoload/airline.vim b/autoload/airline.vim
index 9c9258e5..5e66ba48 100644
--- a/autoload/airline.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline.vim
@@ -21,18 +21,20 @@ function! airline#switch_theme(name)
 endfunction
 
 function! airline#switch_matching_theme()
-  let v:errmsg = ''
-  silent! let palette = g:airline#themes#{g:colors_name}#palette
-  if empty(v:errmsg)
-    call airline#switch_theme(g:colors_name)
-    return 1
-  else
-    for map in items(g:airline_theme_map)
-      if match(g:colors_name, map[0]) > -1
-        call airline#switch_theme(map[1])
-        return 1
-      endif
-    endfor
+  if exists('g:colors_name')
+    let v:errmsg = ''
+    silent! let palette = g:airline#themes#{g:colors_name}#palette
+    if empty(v:errmsg)
+      call airline#switch_theme(g:colors_name)
+      return 1
+    else
+      for map in items(g:airline_theme_map)
+        if match(g:colors_name, map[0]) > -1
+          call airline#switch_theme(map[1])
+          return 1
+        endif
+      endfor
+    endif
   endif
   return 0
 endfunction