diff --git a/src/util/reach.js b/src/util/reach.js
index bcdfc3394..af172defd 100644
--- a/src/util/reach.js
+++ b/src/util/reach.js
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-'use strict';
 let { forEach } = require('property-expr')
   , { has } = require('./_');
 
 let trim = part => part.substr(0, part.length - 1).substr(1)
 
 module.exports = function (obj, path, value, context) {
+  let parent, lastPart;
+
   // if only one "value" arg then use it for both
   context = context || value;
 
-  let parent, lastPart;
-
   forEach(path, (_part, isBracket, isArray) => {
     let part = isBracket ? trim(_part) : _part;
 
@@ -21,18 +20,19 @@ module.exports = function (obj, path, value, context) {
     if (!isArray) {
       obj = obj._resolve(context, parent);
 
-      if (!has(obj, 'fields'))
+      if (!has(obj, 'fields') || !has(obj.fields, part))
         throw new Error(
           `The schema does not contain the path: ${path}. ` +
           `(failed at: ${lastPart} which is a type: "${obj._type}") `
         )
 
       obj = obj.fields[part]
+
       parent = value;
       value = value && value[part]
       lastPart = isBracket ? '[' + _part + ']' : '.' + _part
     }
   })
 
-  return obj._resolve(parent)
+  return obj && obj._resolve(parent)
 }