diff --git a/whisper/utils.py b/whisper/utils.py
index ba5a10c41..22260d0d9 100644
--- a/whisper/utils.py
+++ b/whisper/utils.py
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def iterate_subtitles():
             if len(subtitle) > 0:
                 yield subtitle
 
-        if "words" in result["segments"][0]:
+        if len(result["segments"]) > 0 and "words" in result["segments"][0]:
             for subtitle in iterate_subtitles():
                 subtitle_start = self.format_timestamp(subtitle[0]["start"])
                 subtitle_end = self.format_timestamp(subtitle[-1]["end"])