diff --git a/angucomplete-alt.js b/angucomplete-alt.js
index f9fdf83d..1255e771 100644
--- a/angucomplete-alt.js
+++ b/angucomplete-alt.js
@@ -208,7 +208,9 @@
           keys= key.split('.');
           result = obj;
           for (var i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
-            result = result[keys[i]];
+            if (result) {
+              result = result[keys[i]];
+            }
           }
         }
         else {