diff --git a/module/finc/src/finc/RecordDriver/SolrMarcFincTrait.php b/module/finc/src/finc/RecordDriver/SolrMarcFincTrait.php
index f85b2edc14ffb42dc153d6d55ee73a3eacac782e..35f2975ed17a89f7e1fcbd10d7d4770091af2af4 100644
--- a/module/finc/src/finc/RecordDriver/SolrMarcFincTrait.php
+++ b/module/finc/src/finc/RecordDriver/SolrMarcFincTrait.php
@@ -1481,7 +1481,9 @@ trait SolrMarcFincTrait
                         if ($field == '773' && $subfield == 'a') {
                             if ($line->getIndicator(1) == 1) {
                                 $field245 = $this->getMarcRecord()->getField('245');
-                                if ($sub245a = $field245->getSubfield('a')) {
+                                // in case we have an empty title check title first
+                                // cf. #18096
+                                if ($field245 && $sub245a = $field245->getSubfield('a')) {
                                     $label[] = $text[] = $sub245a->getData();
                                 }
                                 unset($subfields['t']);