diff --git a/bmad/code/create_element_slice.f90 b/bmad/code/create_element_slice.f90
index 3f12927c6c..13bbc2fb6e 100644
--- a/bmad/code/create_element_slice.f90
+++ b/bmad/code/create_element_slice.f90
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ recursive subroutine create_element_slice (sliced_ele, ele_in, l_slice, offset,
     (ele_in%tracking_method == bmad_standard$ .or. ele_in%field_calc == bmad_standard$)) then
   select case (ele_in%key)
   case (sbend$, quadrupole$, sextupole$, octupole$)
-    sliced_ele%rad_map%stale = .false.
+    if (associated(sliced_ele%rad_map)) sliced_ele%rad_map%stale = .false.
   end select
 endif