diff --git a/django/templatetags/i18n.py b/django/templatetags/i18n.py
index 0cb7e6a1e0..e6b3b6132a 100644
--- a/django/templatetags/i18n.py
+++ b/django/templatetags/i18n.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class BlockTranslateNode(Node):
             result = translation.ugettext(singular)
         # Escape all isolated '%' before substituting in the context.
         result = re.sub(u'%(?!\()', u'%%', result)
-        data = dict([(v, _render_value_in_context(context[v], context)) for v in vars])
+        data = dict([(v, _render_value_in_context(context.get(v, ''), context)) for v in vars])
         context.pop()
         return result % data
 
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
index 54c97ce117..fb47b27d90 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
@@ -1245,6 +1245,9 @@ class Templates(unittest.TestCase):
             'i18n32': ('{% load i18n %}{{ "hu"|language_name }} {{ "hu"|language_name_local }} {{ "hu"|language_bidi }}', {}, u'Hungarian Magyar False'),
             'i18n33': ('{% load i18n %}{{ langcode|language_name }} {{ langcode|language_name_local }} {{ langcode|language_bidi }}', {'langcode': 'nl'}, u'Dutch Nederlands False'),
 
+            # blocktrans handling of variables which are not in the context.
+            'i18n34': ('{% load i18n %}{% blocktrans %}{{ missing }}{% endblocktrans %}', {}, u''),
+
             ### HANDLING OF TEMPLATE_STRING_IF_INVALID ###################################
 
             'invalidstr01': ('{{ var|default:"Foo" }}', {}, ('Foo','INVALID')),