diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
index fc6672f2d6..3f1e01548c 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ class Selector:
                         if key in info and info[key] == value:
                             element = material
                 element = material_definition 
+                if not element:
+                    return None
             except:
                 return
         elif "." in key and key.split(".")[0] == "container":