diff --git a/lisp/ein-shared-output.el b/lisp/ein-shared-output.el
index 8c6c6ca..a77c43e 100644
--- a/lisp/ein-shared-output.el
+++ b/lisp/ein-shared-output.el
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ where CELL locates."
 
 (defun ein:get-kernel--shared-output ()
   (let ((cell (ein:get-cell-at-point--shared-output)))
-    (when (slot-boundp cell :kernel)
+    (when (and (object-p cell) (slot-boundp cell :kernel))
       (oref cell :kernel))))
 
 (defun ein:get-cell-at-point--shared-output ()
diff --git a/tests/test-ein-utils.el b/tests/test-ein-utils.el
index ded0db6..e57e03e 100644
--- a/tests/test-ein-utils.el
+++ b/tests/test-ein-utils.el
@@ -86,6 +86,21 @@ def func():
   "Check if `ein:version' can be parsed by `version-to-list'."
   (version-to-list ein:version))
 
+
+;; Generic getter
+
+(defmacro eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil (func)
+  "In an \"empty\" context, generic getter should return nil."
+  `(ert-deftest ,(intern (format "%s--nil name" func)) ()
+     (with-temp-buffer
+       (should (not (,func))))))
+
+(eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil ein:get-url-or-port)
+(eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil ein:get-notebook)
+(eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil ein:get-kernel)
+(eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil ein:get-cell-at-point)
+(eintest:generic-getter-should-return-nil ein:get-traceback-data)
+
 
 ;;; File name translation