diff --git a/src/docgen/CairoDoc.py b/src/docgen/CairoDoc.py
index 73732f72a..7b36238d4 100644
--- a/src/docgen/CairoDoc.py
+++ b/src/docgen/CairoDoc.py
@@ -1301,6 +1301,9 @@ class CairoDoc(BaseDoc.BaseDoc, BaseDoc.TextDoc, BaseDoc.DrawDoc):
             self._available_height = page_height
         
         # try to fit the next element to current page, divide it if needed
+        if not self._elements_to_paginate:
+            #this is a self._doc where nothing has been added. Empty page.
+            return True
         elem = self._elements_to_paginate.pop(0)
         (e1, e2), e1_h = elem.divide(layout,
                                      page_width,
diff --git a/src/plugins/DescendTree.py b/src/plugins/DescendTree.py
index 976bb7202..6c3a1258d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/DescendTree.py
+++ b/src/plugins/DescendTree.py
@@ -227,7 +227,10 @@ class DescendTree(Report):
     def write_report(self):
 
         (maxy,maxx) = self.genchart.dimensions()
-        maxx = (maxx-1)*2
+        if maxx <> 1:
+            maxx = (maxx-1)*2
+        else:
+            maxx = 1
         maxh = int((self.uh-0.75)/(self.box_height*1.25))
 
         if self.force_fit: