diff --git a/common/python/nomadcore/local_backend.py b/common/python/nomadcore/local_backend.py
index 030f47f7761dcd3c651b70aac0320eddbad89d47..6ce3b49f159eea192177af95acdd3bbfa68a4d45 100644
--- a/common/python/nomadcore/local_backend.py
+++ b/common/python/nomadcore/local_backend.py
@@ -596,6 +596,8 @@ class SectionManager(object):
             pSect = backend.sectionManagers.get(parentName)
             try:
                 parentSection = pSect.openSections[pSect.lastSectionGIndex]
+            except IndexError:
+                pass
             except KeyError:
                 pass
             else: