diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
index 221d62acea..513ca6ad37 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/cfi.pyj
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ def point(cfi, doc):  # {{{
             try_list = [{'start':0, 'end':0, 'a':0.5}, {'start':-1, 'end':0, 'a':0}, {'start':0, 'end':1, 'a':1}]
         a = None
         rects = None
-        node_len = node.nodeValue.length
+        node_len = node.nodeValue.length if node.nodeValue else 0
         offset = r.offset
         for v'var i = 0; i < 2; i++':
             # Try reducing the offset by 1 if we get no match as if it refers to the position after the