diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index eda0c0b..647951b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ members = ["codegen", "examples", "performance_measurement", "performance_measur
 
 [package]
 name = "worktable"
-version = "0.8.8"
+version = "0.8.9"
 edition = "2024"
 authors = ["Handy-caT"]
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/src/index/unsized_node.rs b/src/index/unsized_node.rs
index 6d0c454..8620519 100644
--- a/src/index/unsized_node.rs
+++ b/src/index/unsized_node.rs
@@ -50,11 +50,7 @@ where
     }
 
     pub fn rebuild(&mut self) {
-        self.length = self
-            .inner
-            .last()
-            .expect("should not rebuild on empty node")
-            .aligned_size();
+        self.length = self.inner.last().map(|v| v.aligned_size()).unwrap_or(0);
         self.length += UNSIZED_HEADER_LENGTH as usize;
         for value in self.inner.iter() {
             self.length += value.aligned_size();