diff --git a/pyiron_atomistics/sphinx/base.py b/pyiron_atomistics/sphinx/base.py
index 11e54418d..f0fedde1d 100644
--- a/pyiron_atomistics/sphinx/base.py
+++ b/pyiron_atomistics/sphinx/base.py
@@ -2299,6 +2299,8 @@ def collect_electrostatic_potential(self, file_name, cwd):
 
     def _get_electronic_structure_object(self):
         es = ElectronicStructure()
+        if len(self.generic.dft.bands_eigen_values) == 0:
+            return es
         eig_mat = self.generic.dft.bands_eigen_values[-1]
         occ_mat = self.generic.dft.bands_occ[-1]
         if len(eig_mat.shape) == 3: