diff --git a/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pd/structure/PDStructElem.java b/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pd/structure/PDStructElem.java
index 015dd274..a50d31fd 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pd/structure/PDStructElem.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pd/structure/PDStructElem.java
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public String getExpandedAbbreviation() {
 
 	public PDStructElem getParent() {
 		COSObject parentObject = getKey(ASAtom.P);
-		if (parentObject != null) {
+		if (parentObject != null && !parentObject.empty()) {
 			return new PDStructElem(parentObject);
 		}
 		return null;