diff --git a/server/src/main/kotlin/org/ivdnt/galahad/evaluation/comparison/LayerComparison.kt b/server/src/main/kotlin/org/ivdnt/galahad/evaluation/comparison/LayerComparison.kt
index 47864d0..b0b174c 100644
--- a/server/src/main/kotlin/org/ivdnt/galahad/evaluation/comparison/LayerComparison.kt
+++ b/server/src/main/kotlin/org/ivdnt/galahad/evaluation/comparison/LayerComparison.kt
@@ -142,6 +142,9 @@ class LayerComparison(
 
     companion object {
         fun truncatedPcMatch(aStr: String, bStr: String): Boolean {
+            if (aStr.isEmpty() || bStr.isEmpty()) {
+                return false
+            }
             if (PUNCTUATION.contains(aStr.last().toString())) {
                 if (aStr.slice(0 until aStr.lastIndex) == bStr) {
                     return true