diff --git a/gramps/gen/utils/db.py b/gramps/gen/utils/db.py
index 4e0a7f7d5..8725413c8 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/utils/db.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/utils/db.py
@@ -393,8 +393,9 @@ def find_children(db,p):
     childlist = []
     for family_handle in p.get_family_handle_list():
         family = db.get_family_from_handle(family_handle)
-        for child_ref in family.get_child_ref_list():
-            childlist.append(child_ref.ref)
+        if family:
+            for child_ref in family.get_child_ref_list():
+                childlist.append(child_ref.ref)
     return childlist
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -522,10 +523,14 @@ def preset_name(basepers, name, sibling=False):
 def family_name(family, db, noname=_("unknown")):
     """Builds a name for the family from the parents names"""
 
+    father = None
+    mother = None
     father_handle = family.get_father_handle()
     mother_handle = family.get_mother_handle()
-    father = db.get_person_from_handle(father_handle)
-    mother = db.get_person_from_handle(mother_handle)
+    if father_handle:
+        father = db.get_person_from_handle(father_handle)
+    if mother_handle:
+        mother = db.get_person_from_handle(mother_handle)
     if father and mother:
         fname = name_displayer.display(father)
         mname = name_displayer.display(mother)