diff --git a/lib/javascripts/babilu.js b/lib/javascripts/babilu.js
index bf16833..9e66113 100644
--- a/lib/javascripts/babilu.js
+++ b/lib/javascripts/babilu.js
@@ -50,10 +50,13 @@
     } else {
       opts = opts || {};
       opts.defaultValue = opts.defaultValue || null;
-      key = keyToArray(opts.scope).concat(keyToArray(key));
-      var value = this.lookup(key, opts.defaultValue);
+      keyArray = keyToArray(opts.scope).concat(keyToArray(key));
+      var value = this.lookup(keyArray, opts.defaultValue);
       if (typeof value != "string" && value) value = this.pluralize(value, opts.count);
       if (typeof value == "string") value = interpolate(value, opts);
+      
+      if (value === null || value === undefined) return key;
+      
       return value;
     }
   };