diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/refineMesh/refineMesh.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/refineMesh/refineMesh.C
index cbb528e..35fc778 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/refineMesh/refineMesh.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/refineMesh/refineMesh.C
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ label twoDNess(const polyMesh& mesh)
     {
         const polyPatch& patch = patches[patchI];
 
-        if (!isA<wedgePolyPatch>(patch))
+        if (!isA<wedgePolyPatch>(patch) && !patch.empty())
         {
             const vectorField& n = patch.faceAreas();