diff --git a/VersionedMap.cpp b/VersionedMap.cpp
index 4504bc0..b3687da 100644
--- a/VersionedMap.cpp
+++ b/VersionedMap.cpp
@@ -936,9 +936,11 @@ void VersionedMap::Impl::firstGeq(const Key *key, const int64_t *version,
     } else if (finger.backNode() == 0) {
       iterator[i].impl->cmp = 1;
       move<std::memory_order_acquire>(finger, version[i], true);
-      const auto &entry = *mm.base[finger.backNode()].entry;
-      iterator[i].impl->materializeClearEndingHere =
-          entry.clearTo() && entry.pointMutation();
+      if (finger.searchPathSize() > 0) {
+        const auto &entry = *mm.base[finger.backNode()].entry;
+        iterator[i].impl->materializeClearEndingHere =
+            entry.clearTo() && entry.pointMutation();
+      }
     } else {
       iterator[i].impl->cmp = 0;
     }
@@ -1076,7 +1078,7 @@ int main() {
     }
     const int64_t v = 3;
     cast(versionedMap)->printInOrder(v);
-    weaselab::VersionedMap::Key k = {(const uint8_t *)"aa", 2};
+    weaselab::VersionedMap::Key k = {(const uint8_t *)"zz", 2};
     weaselab::VersionedMap::Iterator iter;
     versionedMap.firstGeq(&k, &v, &iter, 1);
     for (auto end = versionedMap.end(v); iter != end; ++iter) {