diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
index 910efcd186..1fc2b6f946 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
@@ -729,18 +729,13 @@ def calculate_unit_scale(ifc_file: ifcopenshell.file, unit_type: str = "LENGTHUN
             # non-length dimensions (PASCAL, NEWTON, GRAM, ...) keep the linear
             # multiplier, as there the prefix scales the derived unit itself.
             # https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/IfcOpenShell/issues/9278
-            dimensions = unit.Dimensions
-            length_exponent = dimensions.LengthExponent
-            if length_exponent > 0 and not any(
-                (
-                    dimensions.MassExponent,
-                    dimensions.TimeExponent,
-                    dimensions.ElectricCurrentExponent,
-                    dimensions.ThermodynamicTemperatureExponent,
-                    dimensions.AmountOfSubstanceExponent,
-                    dimensions.LuminousIntensityExponent,
-                )
-            ):
+            #
+            # Dimensions is looked up from si_dimensions by name rather than via
+            # unit.Dimensions (the schema-derived IfcDimensionalExponents), since
+            # the derived attribute isn't computed for SQLite-linked files and
+            # would return None there.
+            length_exponent, *other_exponents = get_si_dimensions(unit.Name.replace("METER", "METRE"))
+            if length_exponent > 0 and not any(other_exponents):
                 prefix_multiplier **= length_exponent
             unit_scale *= prefix_multiplier
     return unit_scale
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_unit.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_unit.py
index 0e3af2fc07..786e26076e 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_unit.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_unit.py
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 # along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import tempfile
 from math import pi
+from pathlib import Path
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
@@ -29,8 +31,10 @@ import ifcopenshell.api.unit
 import ifcopenshell.util.element
 import ifcopenshell.util.geolocation
 import ifcopenshell.util.unit as subject
+import ifcpatch
 import test.bootstrap
 from ifcopenshell.util.shape_builder import ShapeBuilder
+from ifcpatch.recipes import Ifc2Sql
 
 
 class TestMmToM:
@@ -226,6 +230,34 @@ class TestCalculateUnitScale(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
         assert subject.calculate_unit_scale(self.file, "MASSUNIT") == pytest.approx(1000)
 
 
+class TestCalculateUnitScaleOnLinkedFile(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_run(self):
+        # Regression test: IfcSIUnit.Dimensions is a schema-*derived*
+        # attribute that isn't computed for SQLite-linked files (used for
+        # Bonsai's "linked project" large-model workflow), so it returns None
+        # there instead of an IfcDimensionalExponents entity. calculate_unit_scale()
+        # used to access unit.Dimensions.LengthExponent unconditionally for
+        # every IfcSIUnit, which crashed project loading for any linked file.
+        # See the PR discussion for a standalone reproduction script.
+        ifcopenshell.api.root.create_entity(self.file, ifc_class="IfcProject")
+        length = ifcopenshell.api.unit.add_si_unit(self.file, unit_type="LENGTHUNIT")
+        ifcopenshell.api.unit.assign_unit(self.file, units=[length])
+
+        patcher = Ifc2Sql.Patcher(self.file, sql_type="SQLite")
+        patcher.patch()
+        tmp_file = Path(tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=".ifcsqlite")[1])
+        ifcpatch.write(patcher.get_output(), tmp_file)
+
+        try:
+            linked_file = ifcopenshell.open(str(tmp_file))
+            assert linked_file.by_type("IfcSIUnit")[0].Dimensions is None
+            assert subject.calculate_unit_scale(linked_file, "LENGTHUNIT") == 1.0
+        finally:
+            if isinstance(linked_file, ifcopenshell.sqlite):
+                linked_file.db.close()
+            tmp_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+
 class TestFormatLength(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
     def test_run(self):
         assert subject.format_length(1, 1, decimal_places=0, unit_system="metric") == "1"