diff --git a/atomic_reactor/utils/cachi2.py b/atomic_reactor/utils/cachi2.py
index d9e1ee444..0191f3599 100644
--- a/atomic_reactor/utils/cachi2.py
+++ b/atomic_reactor/utils/cachi2.py
@@ -40,7 +40,12 @@ def remote_source_to_cachi2(remote_source: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     )
     cachi2_packages = []
 
-    for pkg_manager in remote_source["pkg_managers"]:
+    pkg_managers = remote_source.get("pkg_managers")
+    if pkg_managers is None:
+        # Cachito behavior, missing pkg_managers means to use gomod
+        pkg_managers = ["gomod"]
+
+    for pkg_manager in pkg_managers:
         if pkg_manager in removed_pkg_managers:
             continue
 
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_cachi2.py b/tests/utils/test_cachi2.py
index 25e0e99d6..b8db18f30 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_cachi2.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_cachi2.py
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@
         {"flags": [], "packages": [{"path": ".", "type": "bundler"}]},
         id="pkg_rubygems_to_bundler",
     ),
+    pytest.param(
+        {},
+        {"flags": [], "packages": [{"path": ".", "type": "gomod"}]},
+        id="pkg_manager_missing",
+    ),
     pytest.param(
         {"pkg_managers": ["gomod"], "packages": {"gomod": [{"path": "operator"}]}},
         {"flags": [], "packages": [{"path": "operator", "type": "gomod"}]},