diff --git a/src/plugins/lib/libsubstkeyword.py b/src/plugins/lib/libsubstkeyword.py
index 9142eaa37..eef92be74 100644
--- a/src/plugins/lib/libsubstkeyword.py
+++ b/src/plugins/lib/libsubstkeyword.py
@@ -856,6 +856,8 @@ class VariableParse(object):
     
     def get_event_by_name(self, person, event_name):
         """ get an event from a name. """
+        if not person:
+            return None
         for e_ref in person.get_event_ref_list():
             if not e_ref:
                 continue