diff --git a/tracetools_analysis/analysis/handler.py b/tracetools_analysis/analysis/handler.py
index 350d2fe..84b1859 100644
--- a/tracetools_analysis/analysis/handler.py
+++ b/tracetools_analysis/analysis/handler.py
@@ -31,10 +31,14 @@ class EventHandler():
         if handler_function is not None:
             pid = lttng_models.get_field(event,
                                          'vpid',
-                                         default=lttng_models.get_field(event, 'pid'))
+                                         default=lttng_models.get_field(event,
+                                                                        'pid',
+                                                                        raise_if_not_found=False))
             tid = lttng_models.get_field(event,
                                          'vtid',
-                                         default=lttng_models.get_field(event, 'tid'))
+                                         default=lttng_models.get_field(event,
+                                                                        'tid',
+                                                                        raise_if_not_found=False))
             timestamp = lttng_models.get_field(event, '_timestamp')
             procname = lttng_models.get_field(event, 'procname')
             metadata = lttng_models.EventMetadata(event_name, pid, tid, timestamp, procname)
diff --git a/tracetools_analysis/analysis/lttng_models.py b/tracetools_analysis/analysis/lttng_models.py
index d0cb096..7562d2f 100644
--- a/tracetools_analysis/analysis/lttng_models.py
+++ b/tracetools_analysis/analysis/lttng_models.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 # Model objects for LTTng traces/events
 
 
-def get_field(event, field_name, default=None):
-    return event.get(field_name, default)
+def get_field(event, field_name, default=None, raise_if_not_found=True):
+    field_value = event.get(field_name, default)
+    # If enabled, raise exception as soon as possible to avoid headaches
+    if raise_if_not_found and field_value is None:
+        raise AttributeError(f'event field "{field_name}" not found!')
+    return field_value
 
 
 def get_name(event):