diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
index fcd350810c..fb7bde9a2d 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py
@@ -562,8 +562,8 @@ def get_shape_aspects(element: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> list[ifcopenshel
 
     # IfcTypeProduct
     shape_aspects = []
-    for repersentation_map in element.RepresentationMaps:
-        shape_aspects += repersentation_map.HasShapeAspects
+    for representation_map in element.RepresentationMaps or []:
+        shape_aspects += representation_map.HasShapeAspects
     return shape_aspects