diff --git a/fs_npc_list.lua b/fs_npc_list.lua
index 48797e6..484412d 100644
--- a/fs_npc_list.lua
+++ b/fs_npc_list.lua
@@ -272,6 +272,12 @@ yl_speak_up.build_cache_general_npc_list_lines = function()
 				priv_list = priv_list..tostring(short_priv_name[priv])..' '
 			end
 		end
+		-- fallback if something went wrong with the position (or it's unknown)
+		local pos_str = '- unknown -'
+		if(not(data.pos) or not(data.pos.x) or not(data.pos.y) or not(data.pos.z)) then
+			pos = {x=0, y=0, z=0}
+		end
+		pos_str = minetest.formspec_escape(minetest.pos_to_string(data.pos))
 
 		yl_speak_up.cache_general_npc_list_lines[k] = {
 			id              = k, -- keep for sorting
@@ -286,7 +292,7 @@ yl_speak_up.build_cache_general_npc_list_lines = function()
 			anz_trades      = show_if_bigger_null(#data.trades),
 			anz_properties  = show_if_bigger_null(data.properties, true),
 			anz_editors     = show_if_bigger_null(data.may_edit, true),
-			pos             = minetest.formspec_escape(minetest.pos_to_string(data.pos)),
+			pos             = pos_str,
 			priv_list       = priv_list,
 		}
 	end