diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_chests/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_chests/init.lua
index 6f3272149..ab274a83f 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_chests/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_chests/init.lua
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ local function register_chest(basename, desc, longdesc, usagehelp, tt_help, tile
 	end
 
 	local function limit_put(stack, inv1, inv2)
+		if not stack or not inv1 or not inv2 then return end
 		local leftover = ItemStack(stack)
 		leftover = limit_put_list(leftover, inv1:get_list("main"))
 		leftover = limit_put_list(leftover, inv2:get_list("main"))