diff --git a/data_navigator.go b/data_navigator.go
index e6867a4..ab71ae8 100644
--- a/data_navigator.go
+++ b/data_navigator.go
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ func recurse(value interface{}, head string, tail []string) interface{} {
 			log.Fatalf("Error accessing array: %v", err)
 		}
 		return readArray(value.([]interface{}), index, tail)
+	case nil:
+		return nil
 	default:
 		return readMap(value.(map[interface{}]interface{}), head, tail)
 	}
diff --git a/data_navigator_test.go b/data_navigator_test.go
index 21fddd9..65c1814 100644
--- a/data_navigator_test.go
+++ b/data_navigator_test.go
@@ -31,11 +31,15 @@ func TestReadMap_simple(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, 2, readMap(parsedData, "b", []string{"c"}))
 }
 
-func TestReadMap_array(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadMap_key_doesnt_exist(t *testing.T) {
+	assertResult(t, nil, readMap(parsedData, "b.x.f", []string{"c"}))
+}
+
+func TestReadMap_with_array(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, 4, readMap(parsedData, "b", []string{"d", "1"}))
 }
 
-func TestReadMap_array_out_of_bounds(t *testing.T) {
+func TestReadMap_with_array_out_of_bounds(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, nil, readMap(parsedData, "b", []string{"d", "3"}))
 }