diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
index c43aa9e73e..1ba78a497d 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
@@ -2830,6 +2830,10 @@ class Drawing(bonsai.core.tool.Drawing):
     def get_sheet_references(cls, drawing: ifcopenshell.entity_instance) -> list[ifcopenshell.entity_instance]:
         sheet_references: list[ifcopenshell.entity_instance] = []
         drawing_reference = cls.get_drawing_document(drawing)
+        # A drawing with no associated document reference cannot be referenced
+        # by any sheet, so there is nothing to compare against (see #8036, #7266).
+        if drawing_reference is None:
+            return sheet_references
         for sheet in tool.Ifc.get().by_type("IfcDocumentInformation"):
             if not sheet.Scope == "SHEET":
                 continue