diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_country.py b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_country.py
index 6ed4e76fa78..63fcf967630 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/res/res_country.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/res/res_country.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ addresses belonging to this country.\n\nYou can use the python-style string pate
                 context=context)
 
     def write(self, cursor, user, ids, vals, context=None):
-        if 'code' in vals:
+        if vals.get('code', False):
             vals['code'] = vals['code'].upper()
         return super(Country, self).write(cursor, user, ids, vals,
                 context=context)