diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/4351-inventory-lxd-handling_metadata_wo_os_and_release.yml b/changelogs/fragments/4351-inventory-lxd-handling_metadata_wo_os_and_release.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7541a7a61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/4351-inventory-lxd-handling_metadata_wo_os_and_release.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - |
+    lxd inventory plugin - do not crash if OS and release metadata are not present
+    (https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.general/pull/4351).
diff --git a/plugins/inventory/lxd.py b/plugins/inventory/lxd.py
index cdb0fa19b1..912638509d 100644
--- a/plugins/inventory/lxd.py
+++ b/plugins/inventory/lxd.py
@@ -666,9 +666,13 @@ class InventoryModule(BaseInventoryPlugin):
             # add network informations
             self.build_inventory_network(instance_name)
             # add os
-            self.inventory.set_variable(instance_name, 'ansible_lxd_os', self._get_data_entry('inventory/{0}/os'.format(instance_name)).lower())
+            v = self._get_data_entry('inventory/{0}/os'.format(instance_name))
+            if v:
+                self.inventory.set_variable(instance_name, 'ansible_lxd_os', v.lower())
             # add release
-            self.inventory.set_variable(instance_name, 'ansible_lxd_release', self._get_data_entry('inventory/{0}/release'.format(instance_name)).lower())
+            v = self._get_data_entry('inventory/{0}/release'.format(instance_name))
+            if v:
+                self.inventory.set_variable(instance_name, 'ansible_lxd_release', v.lower())
             # add profile
             self.inventory.set_variable(instance_name, 'ansible_lxd_profile', self._get_data_entry('inventory/{0}/profile'.format(instance_name)))
             # add state