diff --git a/python/paddle/v2/config_base.py b/python/paddle/v2/config_base.py
index 96a1c70eded27261d5bad85288f46c20ce23fe45..cb98866d874e35b9fda8e170004d687329b7d3e3 100644
--- a/python/paddle/v2/config_base.py
+++ b/python/paddle/v2/config_base.py
@@ -117,7 +117,9 @@ class Layer(object):
                 continue
             layer.to_proto(context=context)
 
-        if self.use_context_name():
+        if self.context_name() is None:
+            return ret_val
+        elif self.use_context_name():
             return context[self.context_name()]
         else:
             return context[self.name]