diff --git a/scripts/decls_json.py b/scripts/decls_json.py
index a27edd040..4f64a0df1 100755
--- a/scripts/decls_json.py
+++ b/scripts/decls_json.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 def has_annotation(node, annotation):
     for child in node.get_children():
-        if child.kind == clang.cindex.CursorKind.ANNOTATE_ATTR and annotation in child.spelling:
+        if child.kind == clang.cindex.CursorKind.ANNOTATE_ATTR and child.spelling and annotation in child.spelling:
             return True
     return False