diff --git a/backends/ref/ceed-ref-operator.c b/backends/ref/ceed-ref-operator.c
index 4769d34d68..c102b8c01d 100644
--- a/backends/ref/ceed-ref-operator.c
+++ b/backends/ref/ceed-ref-operator.c
@@ -1054,6 +1054,7 @@ static int CeedOperatorApplyAddAtPoints_Ref(CeedOperator op, CeedVector in_vec,
     // Setup points for element
     CeedCallBackend(CeedElemRestrictionApplyAtPointsInElement(rstr_points, e, CEED_NOTRANSPOSE, point_coords, impl->point_coords_elem, request));
     CeedCallBackend(CeedElemRestrictionGetNumPointsInElement(rstr_points, e, &num_points));
+    if (num_points < 1) continue;
 
     // Input basis apply
     CeedCallBackend(CeedOperatorInputBasisAtPoints_Ref(e, num_points_offset, num_points, qf_input_fields, op_input_fields, num_input_fields, in_vec,