diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 3867cb76a..2ce890363 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ void OMW::Engine::activate()
     if (handle.empty())
         return;
 
-    MWWorld::Ptr ptr = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtrViaHandle (handle);
+    MWWorld::Ptr ptr = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtrViaHandle (handle);
 
     if (ptr.isEmpty())
         return;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 521bbb988..9dcdc312f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ namespace MWBase
             virtual MWWorld::Ptr getPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle) = 0;
             ///< Return a pointer to a liveCellRef with the given Ogre handle.
 
+            virtual MWWorld::Ptr searchPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle) = 0;
+            ///< Return a pointer to a liveCellRef with the given Ogre handle or Ptr() if not found
+
             /// \todo enable reference in the OGRE scene
             virtual void enable (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr) = 0;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/hud.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/hud.cpp
index ed0e59226..66cc6b21a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/hud.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/hud.cpp
@@ -245,15 +245,7 @@ void HUD::onWorldClicked(MyGUI::Widget* _sender)
             return;
 
         std::string handle = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFacedHandle();
-        MWWorld::Ptr object;
-        try
-        {
-            object = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtrViaHandle(handle);
-        }
-        catch (std::exception& /* e */)
-        {
-            return;
-        }
+        MWWorld::Ptr object = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtrViaHandle(handle);
 
         if (mode == GM_Console)
             MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->getConsole()->setSelectedObject(object);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
index 5256028eb..35224613c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/tooltips.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void ToolTips::onFrame(float frameDuration)
         {
             std::string handle = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getFacedHandle();
 
-            mFocusObject = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtrViaHandle(handle);
+            mFocusObject = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtrViaHandle(handle);
             if (mFocusObject.isEmpty ())
                 return;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 8d8542bb5..2e3d80aa4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -326,6 +326,14 @@ namespace MWWorld
     }
 
     Ptr World::getPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle)
+    {
+        Ptr res = searchPtrViaHandle (handle);
+        if (res.isEmpty ())
+            throw std::runtime_error ("unknown Ogre handle: " + handle);
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    Ptr World::searchPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle)
     {
         if (mPlayer->getPlayer().getRefData().getHandle()==handle)
             return mPlayer->getPlayer();
@@ -850,7 +858,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mWeatherManager->update (duration);
 
         // inform the GUI about focused object
-        MWWorld::Ptr object = getPtrViaHandle(mFacedHandle);
+        MWWorld::Ptr object = searchPtrViaHandle(mFacedHandle);
 
         MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->setFocusObject(object);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 90cd2151b..f94882c10 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
             virtual Ptr getPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle);
             ///< Return a pointer to a liveCellRef with the given Ogre handle.
 
+            virtual Ptr searchPtrViaHandle (const std::string& handle);
+            ///< Return a pointer to a liveCellRef with the given Ogre handle or Ptr() if not found
+
             virtual void enable (const Ptr& ptr);
 
             virtual void disable (const Ptr& ptr);