diff --git a/ConflictSet.cpp b/ConflictSet.cpp
index 8f44754..6c260a2 100644
--- a/ConflictSet.cpp
+++ b/ConflictSet.cpp
@@ -1777,10 +1777,13 @@ struct SearchStepWise {
     if (child == nullptr) {
       return true;
     }
-    int cl = std::min<int>(child->partialKeyLen, remaining.size() - 1);
-    int i = longestCommonPrefix(child->partialKey(), remaining.data() + 1, cl);
-    if (i != child->partialKeyLen) {
-      return true;
+    if (child->partialKeyLen > 0) {
+      int cl = std::min<int>(child->partialKeyLen, remaining.size() - 1);
+      int i =
+          longestCommonPrefix(child->partialKey(), remaining.data() + 1, cl);
+      if (i != child->partialKeyLen) {
+        return true;
+      }
     }
     n = child;
     remaining =