diff --git a/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py b/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
index 57214e7..4ab83cb 100644
--- a/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
+++ b/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
@@ -978,6 +978,10 @@ def _update_github_project_fields(client, existing, issue,
 
     default_jira_fields = config['sync2jira'].get('default_jira_fields', {})
     for name, values in github_project_fields.items():
+        if name not in dir(issue):
+            log.error(f"Configuration error: github_project_field key, {name:r}, is not in issue object.")
+            continue
+
         log.info(f"Looking at GHP field '{name}' with configuration '{values}'")
         fieldvalue = getattr(issue, name)
         log.info(f"Issue value for field '{name}' is '{fieldvalue}'")
diff --git a/sync2jira/main.py b/sync2jira/main.py
index f58ac65..6897e92 100644
--- a/sync2jira/main.py
+++ b/sync2jira/main.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 INITIALIZE = os.getenv('INITIALIZE', '0')
 
 
-def load_config(loader=fedmsg.config.conf.load_config):
+def load_config(loader=lambda: fedmsg.config.conf):
     """
     Generates and validates the config file \
     that will be used by fedmsg and JIRA client.