diff --git a/conda_smithy/variant_algebra.py b/conda_smithy/variant_algebra.py
index 5602dd855..51f506b5f 100644
--- a/conda_smithy/variant_algebra.py
+++ b/conda_smithy/variant_algebra.py
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def variant_add(v1: dict, v2: dict) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     # deal with __migrator: ordering
     if "__migrator" in v2:
         print(v2)
-        ordering = v2["__migrator"].get("ordering")
+        ordering = v2["__migrator"].get("ordering", {})
         print(ordering)
     else:
         ordering = {}
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def variant_add(v1: dict, v2: dict) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     joint_variant = {}
     for k in joint:
         v_left, v_right = ensure_list(v1[k]), ensure_list(v2[k])
-        joint_variant[k] = variant_key_add(k, v_left, v_right, ordering=ordering.get(k))
+        joint_variant[k] = variant_key_add(k, v_left, v_right, ordering=ordering.get(k, None))
 
     out = {
         **toolz.keyfilter(lambda k: k in left, v1),
diff --git a/news/fix_variants.rst b/news/fix_variants.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8691a81dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/fix_variants.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* Don't make assumptions in ``conda_smithy/variant_algebra.py`` about the metadata
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>
+
diff --git a/tests/test_variant_algebra.py b/tests/test_variant_algebra.py
index 7f0c6aaab..aaf84bb2a 100644
--- a/tests/test_variant_algebra.py
+++ b/tests/test_variant_algebra.py
@@ -96,6 +96,36 @@ def test_ordering():
     # raise Exception()
 
 
+def test_no_ordering():
+    start = parse_variant(
+        dedent(
+            """\
+    xyz:
+        - 1
+    """
+        )
+    )
+
+    mig_compiler = parse_variant(
+        dedent(
+            """\
+    __migrator:
+        kind:
+            version
+        migration_no:
+            1
+    xyz:
+        - 2
+    """
+        )
+    )
+
+    res = variant_add(start, mig_compiler)
+    assert res["xyz"] == ["2"]
+    print(res)
+    # raise Exception()
+
+
 def test_ordering_downgrade():
     start = parse_variant(
         dedent(