diff --git a/src/backend/html_markdown.py b/src/backend/html_markdown.py
index f06c7c51..e5a72d73 100644
--- a/src/backend/html_markdown.py
+++ b/src/backend/html_markdown.py
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ class HTMLProcessor:
 
 
     def _matrix_to_links_add_classes(self, el: HtmlElement) -> HtmlElement:
-        href = unquote(el.attrib.get("href"))
+        href = unquote(el.attrib.get("href", ""))
 
         if not href or not el.text:
             return el