diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index d8df167..d358856 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ func searchKeys(data []byte, keys ...string) int {
 			}
 		case '[':
 			// If we want to get array element by index
-			if keyLevel == level && keys[level][0] == '[' {
+			if keyLevel == level && len(keys[level]) > 0 && keys[level][0] == '[' {
 				keyLen := len(keys[level])
 				// Note: keys[level][0] == '[' is guaranteed by the outer if-guard,
 				// so the former middle term `keys[level][0] != '['` was always false
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index 795b470..ddcc531 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -1170,6 +1170,18 @@ var getArrayTests = []GetTest{
 		isFound: true,
 		data:    []string{`1`, `2`, `3`, `4`},
 	},
+	{
+		desc:    `array with single empty-string key returns not-found, not panic`,
+		json:    `[]`,
+		path:    []string{""},
+		isFound: false,
+	},
+	{
+		desc:    `truncated array with empty key returns not-found, not panic`,
+		json:    `[`,
+		path:    []string{""},
+		isFound: false,
+	},
 	{
 		desc:    `read array of objects`,
 		json:    `{"a": { "b":[{"x":1},{"x":2},{"x":3},{"x":4}]}}`,