diff --git a/src/bin/e_box.c b/src/bin/e_box.c
index 1fbd797ba..fa3f6c83f 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_box.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_box.c
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ _e_box_item_nth_get(E_Smart_Data *sd, unsigned int n)
    unsigned int x;
    E_Box_Item *bi;
 
+   if (!sd->items) return NULL;
    if (n > sd->item_count / 2)
      {
         x = sd->item_count - 1;