diff --git a/lisp/org-num.el b/lisp/org-num.el
index e816080d1..a5b044e0d 100644
--- a/lisp/org-num.el
+++ b/lisp/org-num.el
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ otherwise."
              org-footnote-section
              (equal title org-footnote-section))
         (and org-num-skip-commented
+	     title
              (let ((case-fold-search nil))
                (string-match org-num--comment-re title))
              t)