diff --git a/io_scene_x3d/export_x3d.py b/io_scene_x3d/export_x3d.py
index a89fb30a0c88e7d9ce7e33a661199d6b8509aa66..f1635f1786d292e514d2c61a452c191ea1d851b6 100644
--- a/io_scene_x3d/export_x3d.py
+++ b/io_scene_x3d/export_x3d.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def build_hierarchy(objects):
         for obj, subchildren in children:
             subchildren[:] = par_lookup.get(obj, [])
 
-    return par_lookup[None]
+    return par_lookup.get(None, [])
 
 
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