diff --git a/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py b/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
index 44163a434..c346e2652 100644
--- a/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
+++ b/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ def call_init(obj, caller = None):
         _init(obj,parent=caller)
 
 def _is_init_type(obj):
-    if helper.hasattr_silent(obj,'contents'): #pointer
+
+    if obj and helper.hasattr_silent(obj,'contents'): #pointer
         return _is_init_type(obj[0])
     # null-pointer case that arises when we reach a mesh attribute
     # like mBitangents which use mNumVertices rather than mNumBitangents