diff --git a/layoutparser-service/layoutparser-service-processor/src/main/java/com/knecon/fforesight/service/layoutparser/processor/services/classification/TableOfContentsClassificationService.java b/layoutparser-service/layoutparser-service-processor/src/main/java/com/knecon/fforesight/service/layoutparser/processor/services/classification/TableOfContentsClassificationService.java
index 28bea50..36f91d1 100644
--- a/layoutparser-service/layoutparser-service-processor/src/main/java/com/knecon/fforesight/service/layoutparser/processor/services/classification/TableOfContentsClassificationService.java
+++ b/layoutparser-service/layoutparser-service-processor/src/main/java/com/knecon/fforesight/service/layoutparser/processor/services/classification/TableOfContentsClassificationService.java
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ public class TableOfContentsClassificationService {
 
     private int identifyTOCItems(int start, List<TextBlockOnPage> textBlocks, ClassificationDocument document) {
 
+        if (start >= textBlocks.size()) {
+            return start;
+        }
         ClassificationPage startPage = textBlocks.get(start).page();
         List<TextBlockOnPage> initialLookAhead = textBlocks.subList(start, Math.min(start + SURROUNDING_BLOCKS_RADIUS, textBlocks.size()));
         HashMap<NumberWord, TextBlockOnPage> numberToBlockLookup = new HashMap<>();