diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
index 14ddd3ec5..41794c2ad 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/refdata.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
     std::string RefData::getHandle()
     {
+        if (!mBaseNode)
+            return "";
+            
         return mBaseNode->getName();
     }