diff --git a/src/pretix/plugins/paypal2/payment.py b/src/pretix/plugins/paypal2/payment.py
index 2f33edc0d2..1b2204cdd2 100644
--- a/src/pretix/plugins/paypal2/payment.py
+++ b/src/pretix/plugins/paypal2/payment.py
@@ -949,6 +949,9 @@ class PaypalMethod(BasePaymentProvider):
                 }
             })
             response = self.client.execute(req)
+        except KeyError:
+            raise PaymentException(_('Refunding the amount via PayPal failed: The original payment does not contain '
+                                     'the required information to issue an automated refund.'))
         except IOError as e:
             refund.order.log_action('pretix.event.order.refund.failed', {
                 'local_id': refund.local_id,