diff --git a/src/BVH/BVH_Box.lxx b/src/BVH/BVH_Box.lxx
index 7affa94eac..80098819e6 100644
--- a/src/BVH/BVH_Box.lxx
+++ b/src/BVH/BVH_Box.lxx
@@ -199,7 +199,8 @@ namespace BVHTools
 template<class T, int N>
 T BVH_Box<T, N>::Area() const
 {
-  return BVHTools::SurfaceCalculator<T, N>::Area (myMaxPoint - myMinPoint);
+  return !myInitialized ? static_cast<T> (0.0) :
+    BVHTools::SurfaceCalculator<T, N>::Area (myMaxPoint - myMinPoint);
 }
 
 // =======================================================================