diff --git a/src/lang/queryAst.ts b/src/lang/queryAst.ts
index 19d1b3b1a6e..bc2ac9ad5e5 100644
--- a/src/lang/queryAst.ts
+++ b/src/lang/queryAst.ts
@@ -1149,8 +1149,15 @@ export function getVariableExprsFromSelection(
     }
 
     // No variable case
-    exprs.push(createPipeSubstitution())
-    pathIfPipe = s.codeRef.pathToNode
+    if (s.codeRef.pathToNode.length > 0) {
+      exprs.push(createPipeSubstitution())
+      pathIfPipe = s.codeRef.pathToNode
+      continue
+    }
+
+    // @pierremtb: not having a pathToNode at this point could mean the selection
+    // is from an imported module, see https://github.com/KittyCAD/modeling-app/issues/8616
+    console.warn('No match for selection, likely a bug (or bad selection)', s)
   }
 
   if (exprs.length === 0) {