diff --git a/ConflictSet.cpp b/ConflictSet.cpp
index cfe1043..6b46756 100644
--- a/ConflictSet.cpp
+++ b/ConflictSet.cpp
@@ -2349,6 +2349,9 @@ Iterator firstGeq(Node *n, const std::span<const uint8_t> key) {
         goto downLeftSpine;
       } else {
         n = nextSibling(n);
+        if (n == nullptr) {
+          return {nullptr, 1};
+        }
         goto downLeftSpine;
       }
     }
@@ -2379,9 +2382,6 @@ Iterator firstGeq(Node *n, const std::span<const uint8_t> key) {
     }
   }
 downLeftSpine:
-  if (n == nullptr) {
-    return {nullptr, 1};
-  }
   for (;;) {
     if (n->entryPresent) {
       return {n, 1};