diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
index 39d084ca..ca6ba2d7 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative.go
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ func alternativeFunc(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode,
 	if lhs == nil {
 		return rhs, nil
 	}
+	if rhs == nil {
+		return lhs, nil
+	}
 	lhs.Node = unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
 	rhs.Node = unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
 	log.Debugf("Alternative LHS: %v", lhs.Node.Tag)
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative_test.go
index 9a57a052..f4a986c4 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_alternative_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,14 @@ var alternativeOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (doc)::a: bridge\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		expression: `.a // .b`,
+		document:   `a: 2`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[a], (!!int)::2\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		description: "LHS is defined",
 		expression:  `.a // "hello"`,