diff --git a/python/ray/autoscaler/autoscaler.py b/python/ray/autoscaler/autoscaler.py
index 42a166a47..deec0386d 100644
--- a/python/ray/autoscaler/autoscaler.py
+++ b/python/ray/autoscaler/autoscaler.py
@@ -430,6 +430,8 @@ class StandardAutoscaler:
         return fields
 
     def _get_node_specific_docker_config(self, node_id):
+        if "docker" not in self.config:
+            return {}
         docker_config = copy.deepcopy(self.config.get("docker", {}))
         node_specific_docker = self._get_node_type_specific_fields(
             node_id, "docker")
diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_resource_demand_scheduler.py b/python/ray/tests/test_resource_demand_scheduler.py
index 23c2aab21..70c6d9688 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_resource_demand_scheduler.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_resource_demand_scheduler.py
@@ -605,6 +605,32 @@ class AutoscalingTest(unittest.TestCase):
         autoscaler.update()
         self.waitForNodes(0)
 
+    def testEmptyDocker(self):
+        config = MULTI_WORKER_CLUSTER.copy()
+        del config["docker"]
+        config["min_workers"] = 0
+        config["max_workers"] = 10
+        config_path = self.write_config(config)
+        self.provider = MockProvider()
+        runner = MockProcessRunner()
+        autoscaler = StandardAutoscaler(
+            config_path,
+            LoadMetrics(),
+            max_failures=0,
+            process_runner=runner,
+            update_interval_s=0)
+        assert len(self.provider.non_terminated_nodes({})) == 0
+        autoscaler.update()
+        self.waitForNodes(0)
+        autoscaler.request_resources([{"CPU": 1}])
+        autoscaler.update()
+        self.waitForNodes(1)
+        assert self.provider.mock_nodes[0].node_type == "m4.large"
+        autoscaler.request_resources([{"GPU": 8}])
+        autoscaler.update()
+        self.waitForNodes(2)
+        assert self.provider.mock_nodes[1].node_type == "p2.8xlarge"
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import sys