diff --git a/src/workbench.lua b/src/workbench.lua
index 4b634699d9d5e3e5249f879c96d173636049014d..9ad505386b820313ff2e84ade491540292993033 100644
--- a/src/workbench.lua
+++ b/src/workbench.lua
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ for node, def in pairs(minetest.registered_nodes) do
 	   not (def.groups.not_in_creative_inventory == 1) and
 	   not (def.groups.not_cuttable == 1) and
 	   not def.groups.wool and
-	   (def.tiles and not def.tiles[1]:find("default_mineral")) and
+	   (def.tiles and type(def.tiles[1]) == "string" and not
+		def.tiles[1]:find("default_mineral")) and
 	   not def.mesecons and
 	   def.description and
 	   def.description ~= "" and