diff --git a/data_navigator.go b/data_navigator.go
index 9806fc62..1f1acacc 100644
--- a/data_navigator.go
+++ b/data_navigator.go
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ func recurse(value interface{}, head string, tail []string) interface{} {
 			log.Fatalf("Error accessing array: %v", err)
 		}
 		return readArray(value.([]interface{}), index, tail)
-	case nil:
-		return nil
-	default:
+	case map[interface{}]interface{}:
 		return readMap(value.(map[interface{}]interface{}), head, tail)
+	default:
+		return nil
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/data_navigator_test.go b/data_navigator_test.go
index a7f12a38..4f4de210 100644
--- a/data_navigator_test.go
+++ b/data_navigator_test.go
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ func TestReadMap_key_doesnt_exist(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, nil, readMap(parsedData, "b.x.f", []string{"c"}))
 }
 
+func TestReadMap_recurse_against_string(t *testing.T) {
+	assertResult(t, nil, readMap(parsedData, "a", []string{"b"}))
+}
+
 func TestReadMap_with_array(t *testing.T) {
 	assertResult(t, 4, readMap(parsedData, "b", []string{"d", "1"}))
 }