diff --git a/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i b/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
index 05442d59c3..8d52625e6e 100644
--- a/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
+++ b/src/ifcwrap/IfcGeomWrapper.i
@@ -1021,6 +1021,9 @@ ifcopenshell::geometry::taxonomy::item::ptr try_upcast(PyObject* obj0, swig_type
 
 %inline %{
 	ifcopenshell::geometry::taxonomy::item::ptr map_shape(ifcopenshell::geometry::Settings& settings, IfcUtil::IfcBaseClass* instance) {
+	    if (instance->file_ == nullptr) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("Unable to map instance without file");
+        }
         std::unique_ptr<ifcopenshell::geometry::abstract_mapping> mapping(ifcopenshell::geometry::impl::mapping_implementations().construct(instance->file_, settings));
 		return mapping->map(instance);
 	}