diff --git a/server/models/Collection.js b/server/models/Collection.js
index 61f5d0c7..62ab9f88 100644
--- a/server/models/Collection.js
+++ b/server/models/Collection.js
@@ -442,7 +442,10 @@ Collection.prototype.getDocumentParents = function (
     });
   };
 
-  loopChildren(this.documentStructure);
+  if (this.documentStructure) {
+    loopChildren(this.documentStructure);
+  }
+
   return result;
 };
 
diff --git a/server/models/Collection.test.js b/server/models/Collection.test.js
index 8d65f247..3858d799 100644
--- a/server/models/Collection.test.js
+++ b/server/models/Collection.test.js
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ describe("getDocumentParents", () => {
     const result = collection.getDocumentParents(parent.id);
     expect(result.length).toBe(0);
   });
+
+  test("should not error if documentStructure is empty", async () => {
+    const parent = await buildDocument();
+    await buildDocument();
+    const collection = await buildCollection();
+
+    const result = collection.getDocumentParents(parent.id);
+    expect(result).toBe(undefined);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("getDocumentTree", () => {