diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/data.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/data.py
index 2402192aad..2ea97a9a20 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/data.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/data.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def refresh():
 
 class ProfileData:
     data = {}
+    failed_previews: set[int] = set()
     preview_collection = bpy.utils.previews.new()
     is_loaded = False
 
diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/prop.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/prop.py
index afe21b1446..9fa4f5e360 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/prop.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/prop.py
@@ -81,14 +81,24 @@ def generate_thumbnail_for_active_profile():
     if not props.profiles:
         bpy.ops.bim.load_profiles()
 
-    profile_id = props.profiles[props.active_profile_index].ifc_definition_id
+    active_profile = tool.Profile.get_active_profile_ui()
+    assert active_profile
+    profile_id = active_profile.ifc_definition_id
     profile = ifc_file.by_id(profile_id)
 
     # generate image
     size = 128
     img = Image.new("RGBA", (size, size))
     draw = ImageDraw.Draw(img)
-    tool.Profile.draw_image_for_ifc_profile(draw, profile, size)
+
+    try:
+        tool.Profile.draw_image_for_ifc_profile(draw, profile, size)
+    except RuntimeError as e:
+        print(f"Failed to generate preview image for profile '{profile}': '{e}'.")
+        ProfileData.failed_previews.add(profile_id)
+        return
+
+    ProfileData.failed_previews.discard(profile_id)
     pixels = [item for sublist in img.getdata() for item in sublist]
 
     # save generated image to preview collection
diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/ui.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/ui.py
index 56c5aefe96..23eecc0037 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/ui.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/bim/module/profile/ui.py
@@ -43,19 +43,22 @@ class BIM_PT_profiles(Panel):
         self.props = context.scene.BIMProfileProperties
 
         active_profile = None
-        if self.props.is_editing and self.props.profiles and self.props.active_profile_index < len(self.props.profiles):
+        if self.props.is_editing and (active_profile := tool.Profile.get_active_profile_ui()):
             preview_collection = ProfileData.preview_collection
             box = self.layout.box()
-            active_profile = self.props.profiles[self.props.active_profile_index]
             profile_id = active_profile.ifc_definition_id
-            profile_id_str = str(profile_id)
-            if profile_id_str in preview_collection:
-                preview_image = preview_collection[profile_id_str]
-            else:
-                preview_image = preview_collection.new(profile_id_str)
-                generate_thumbnail_for_active_profile()
 
-            box.template_icon(icon_value=preview_image.icon_id, scale=5)
+            if profile_id in ProfileData.failed_previews:
+                box.label(text="Failed to load preview (invalid profile).", icon="ERROR")
+            else:
+                profile_id_str = str(profile_id)
+                if profile_id_str in preview_collection:
+                    preview_image = preview_collection[profile_id_str]
+                else:
+                    preview_image = preview_collection.new(profile_id_str)
+                    generate_thumbnail_for_active_profile()
+
+                box.template_icon(icon_value=preview_image.icon_id, scale=5)
 
         row = self.layout.row(align=True)
         row.label(text=f"{ProfileData.data['total_profiles']} Named Profiles", icon="ITALIC")
diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/profile.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/profile.py
index cc7e91f0b3..ae1d9a45de 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/profile.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/profile.py
@@ -40,7 +40,11 @@ class Profile(bonsai.core.tool.Profile):
         settings = ifcopenshell.geom.settings()
         settings.set("dimensionality", ifcopenshell.ifcopenshell_wrapper.CURVES_SURFACES_AND_SOLIDS)
         shape = ifcopenshell.geom.create_shape(settings, profile)
+
         verts = shape.verts
+        if not verts:
+            raise RuntimeError("Profile shape has no vertices, it probably is invalid.")
+
         edges = shape.edges
 
         grouped_verts = [[verts[i], verts[i + 1]] for i in range(0, len(verts), 3)]