diff --git a/src/python/gem5/resources/downloader.py b/src/python/gem5/resources/downloader.py
index 1aeb487e61..b4f7a2f016 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/resources/downloader.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/resources/downloader.py
@@ -280,17 +280,21 @@ def get_resource(
         # string-based way of doing things. It can be refactored away over
         # time:
         # https://gem5-review.googlesource.com/c/public/gem5-resources/+/51168
-        if isinstance(resource_json["is_zipped"], str):
-            run_unzip = unzip and resource_json["is_zipped"].lower() == "true"
-        elif isinstance(resource_json["is_zipped"], bool):
-            run_unzip = unzip and resource_json["is_zipped"]
-        else:
-            raise Exception(
-                "The resource.json entry for '{}' has a value for the "
-                "'is_zipped' field which is neither a string or a boolean.".format(
-                    resource_name
+        run_unzip = False
+        if "is_zipped" in resource_json:
+            if isinstance(resource_json["is_zipped"], str):
+                run_unzip = (
+                    unzip and resource_json["is_zipped"].lower() == "true"
+                )
+            elif isinstance(resource_json["is_zipped"], bool):
+                run_unzip = unzip and resource_json["is_zipped"]
+            else:
+                raise Exception(
+                    "The resource.json entry for '{}' has a value for the "
+                    "'is_zipped' field which is neither a string or a boolean.".format(
+                        resource_name
+                    )
                 )
-            )
 
         run_tar_extract = (
             untar