diff --git a/pylsp/plugins/rope_autoimport.py b/pylsp/plugins/rope_autoimport.py
index f6366989..2c0c46ed 100644
--- a/pylsp/plugins/rope_autoimport.py
+++ b/pylsp/plugins/rope_autoimport.py
@@ -28,13 +28,15 @@ def pylsp_settings() -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]]:
     return {"plugins": {"rope_autoimport": {"enabled": False, "memory": False}}}
 
 
-def _should_insert(expr: tree.BaseNode, word_node: tree.Leaf) -> bool:
+def _should_insert(expr: tree.BaseNode, word_node: tree.Leaf) -> bool:  # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
     """
     Check if we should insert the word_node on the given expr.
 
     Works for both correct and incorrect code. This is because the
     user is often working on the code as they write it.
     """
+    if not word_node:
+        return False
     if len(expr.children) == 0:
         return True
     first_child = expr.children[0]
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_autoimport.py b/test/plugins/test_autoimport.py
index b017b92f..a1ddd779 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_autoimport.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_autoimport.py
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ def test_autoimport_class(completions):
     assert len(completions) == 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("completions", [("""\n""", 0)], indirect=True)
+def test_autoimport_empty_line(completions):
+    assert len(completions) == 0
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("completions", [("""class Test(NamedTupl):""", 20)],
                          indirect=True)
 def test_autoimport_class_complete(completions):