diff --git a/lua/harpoon/list.lua b/lua/harpoon/list.lua
index 897122f..8889177 100644
--- a/lua/harpoon/list.lua
+++ b/lua/harpoon/list.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ end
 
 local function determine_length(arr, previous_length)
     local idx = previous_length
+    if idx == 1 and arr[idx] == nil then
+        return 0
+    end 
     for i = previous_length, 1, -1 do
         if arr[i] ~= nil then
             idx = i