diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 5e73a95f2..a8ba1abf5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -263,17 +263,27 @@ void NpcAnimation::updateNpcBase()
     }
     else
     {
-        if (isVampire)
+        mHeadModel = "";
+        if (isVampire) // FIXME: fall back to regular head when getVampireHead fails?
             mHeadModel = getVampireHead(mNpc->mRace, mNpc->mFlags & ESM::NPC::Female);
         else if (!mNpc->mHead.empty())
-            mHeadModel = "meshes\\" + store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().find(mNpc->mHead)->mModel;
-        else
-            mHeadModel = "";
+        {
+            const ESM::BodyPart* bp = store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().search(mNpc->mHead);
+            if (bp)
+                mHeadModel = "meshes\\" + bp->mModel;
+            else
+                std::cerr << "Failed to load body part '" << mNpc->mHead << "'" << std::endl;
+        }
 
+        mHairModel = "";
         if (!mNpc->mHair.empty())
-            mHairModel = "meshes\\" + store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().find(mNpc->mHair)->mModel;
-        else
-            mHairModel = "";
+        {
+            const ESM::BodyPart* bp = store.get<ESM::BodyPart>().search(mNpc->mHair);
+            if (bp)
+                mHairModel = "meshes\\" + bp->mModel;
+            else
+                std::cerr << "Failed to load body part '" << mNpc->mHair << "'" << std::endl;
+        }
     }
 
     bool isBeast = (race->mData.mFlags & ESM::Race::Beast) != 0;