diff --git a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
index 01b845ca..5f40a6a5 100644
--- a/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
+++ b/src/activities/reader/EpubReaderActivity.cpp
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ void EpubReaderActivity::loop() {
   if (prevTriggered) {
     if (section->currentPage > 0) {
       section->currentPage--;
-    } else {
+    } else if (currentSpineIndex > 0) {
       // We don't want to delete the section mid-render, so grab the semaphore
       {
         RenderLock lock(*this);