diff --git a/cmis_sync/cmis_sync.cmis.inc b/cmis_sync/cmis_sync.cmis.inc
index e741993..f3c33ae 100644
--- a/cmis_sync/cmis_sync.cmis.inc
+++ b/cmis_sync/cmis_sync.cmis.inc
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ function _cmis_sync_cmis_drupal_prepare($repository, $sync_map_type, $node_type,
     
     // load Drupal node
     $node = node_load($drupal_nid);
+    if (!$node) {
+      $node = new stdClass();
+    }
     $node->type = $node_type;
     
     // map cmis properties to drupal node fields