diff --git a/ccmain/paragraphs.cpp b/ccmain/paragraphs.cpp
index 17f2d73994..da4cdc208f 100644
--- a/ccmain/paragraphs.cpp
+++ b/ccmain/paragraphs.cpp
@@ -2400,8 +2400,8 @@ void InitializeTextAndBoxesPreRecognition(const MutableIterator &it,
     }
     word_res = page_res_it.forward();
   } while (page_res_it.row() == this_row);
-  info->lword_box = lword->word->bounding_box();
-  info->rword_box = rword->word->bounding_box();
+  if(lword) info->lword_box = lword->word->bounding_box();
+  if(rword) info->rword_box = rword->word->bounding_box();
 }