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 c04f7d7..3e94bcb 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
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ 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<Word, TextBlockOnPage> lookup = new HashMap<>();