diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 1cc6b85..62ed16d 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     "sphinx.ext.intersphinx",
     "sphinx.ext.mathjax",
     "sphinx.ext.napoleon",
-    "sphinx.ext.intersphinx",
     "sphinx_autodoc_typehints",
     "sphinx_copybutton",
     "sphinx_inline_tabs",
@@ -54,10 +53,6 @@
     "colon_fence",
 ]
 
-intersphinx_mapping = {
-    "python": ("https://docs.python.org/3", None),
-}
-
 nitpick_ignore = [
     ("py:class", "_io.StringIO"),
     ("py:class", "_io.BytesIO"),
diff --git a/src/dbetto/textdb.py b/src/dbetto/textdb.py
index afa3dd2..818e6bc 100644
--- a/src/dbetto/textdb.py
+++ b/src/dbetto/textdb.py
@@ -333,7 +333,9 @@ def __getitem__(self, item: str | Path) -> TextDB | AttrsDict | list | None:
                 if isinstance(loaded, dict):
                     loaded = AttrsDict(loaded)
                     Props.subst_vars(loaded, var_values={"_": self.__path__})
-                else:  # must be a list, check if there are dicts inside to convert
+                elif (
+                    loaded is not None
+                ):  # must be a list, check if there are dicts inside to convert
                     for i, el in enumerate(loaded):
                         if isinstance(el, dict):
                             loaded[i] = AttrsDict(el)
diff --git a/tests/testdb/dir1/dir2/empty.yaml b/tests/testdb/dir1/dir2/empty.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29