diff --git a/src/main/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/query/spans/ElementDistanceSpans.java b/src/main/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/query/spans/ElementDistanceSpans.java
index bd7af52..ab86e30 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/query/spans/ElementDistanceSpans.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/ids_mannheim/korap/query/spans/ElementDistanceSpans.java
@@ -196,7 +196,12 @@
 
     @Override
     public long cost () {
-        CandidateSpan candidateSpan = candidateList.get(candidateListIndex);
-        return elements.cost() + candidateSpan.getCost() + secondSpans.cost();
+        if (!candidateList.isEmpty()){
+            CandidateSpan candidateSpan = candidateList.get(candidateListIndex);
+            return elements.cost() + candidateSpan.getCost() + secondSpans.cost();
+        }
+        else{
+            return elements.cost() + secondSpans.cost();
+        }
     }
 }