diff --git a/src/obj.js b/src/obj.js
index 3cdee8778..c38f922e5 100644
--- a/src/obj.js
+++ b/src/obj.js
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ var Catalog = (function CatalogClosure() {
           while (queue.length > 0) {
             var i = queue.shift();
             var outlineDict = xref.fetch(i.obj);
+            if (outlineDict === null)
+              continue;
             if (!outlineDict.has('Title'))
               error('Invalid outline item');
             var dest = outlineDict.get('A');
@@ -569,6 +571,8 @@ var XRef = (function XRefClosure() {
     },
     getEntry: function xRefGetEntry(i) {
       var e = this.entries[i];
+      if (e === null)
+        return null;
       return e.free ? null : e; // returns null is the entry is free
     },
     fetchIfRef: function xRefFetchIfRef(obj) {