diff --git a/mods/CORE/mcl_util/init.lua b/mods/CORE/mcl_util/init.lua
index 4889b7d0a..3c755da22 100644
--- a/mods/CORE/mcl_util/init.lua
+++ b/mods/CORE/mcl_util/init.lua
@@ -1017,13 +1017,13 @@ function mcl_util.check_position_protection(position, player)
 	return false
 end
 
+local palette_indexes = {grass_palette_index = 0, foliage_palette_index = 0}
 function mcl_util.get_palette_indexes_from_pos(pos)
-	local palette_indexes = {grass_palette_index = 0, foliage_palette_index = 0}
 	local biome_data = minetest.get_biome_data(pos)
 	local biome = biome_data.biome
 	local biome_name = minetest.get_biome_name(biome)
 	local reg_biome = minetest.registered_biomes[biome_name]
-	if reg_biome then
+	if reg_biome and reg_biome._mcl_grass_palette_index and reg_biome._mcl_foliage_palette_index then
 		local gpi = reg_biome._mcl_grass_palette_index
 		local fpi = reg_biome._mcl_foliage_palette_index
 		local palette_indexes = {grass_palette_index = gpi, foliage_palette_index = fpi}