diff --git a/src/atlasViewer/atlasViewer.component.ts b/src/atlasViewer/atlasViewer.component.ts
index aa551f293212fec65d29a9d6f33058165d48337d..8963c18f8b2f4dec6a0455af4a421732b06672be 100644
--- a/src/atlasViewer/atlasViewer.component.ts
+++ b/src/atlasViewer/atlasViewer.component.ts
@@ -495,22 +495,24 @@ export class AtlasViewer implements OnDestroy, OnInit, AfterViewInit {
 
 
   closeMenuWithSwipe(documentToSwipe: ElementRef) {
-    const swipeDistance = 150; // swipe distance
-    const swipeLeft$ = fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchstart")
-        .pipe(
-          switchMap(startEvent =>
-            fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchmove")
-                .pipe(
-                  takeUntil(fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchend"))
-                  ,map(event => event['touches'][0].pageX)
-                  ,scan((acc, pageX) => Math.round(startEvent['touches'][0].pageX - pageX), 0)
-                  ,takeLast(1)
-                  ,filter(difference => difference >= swipeDistance)
-                )))
-    // Subscription
-    swipeLeft$.subscribe(val => {
-      this.changeMenuState({close: true})
-    })
+    if (documentToSwipe && documentToSwipe.nativeElement) {
+      const swipeDistance = 150; // swipe distance
+      const swipeLeft$ = fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchstart")
+          .pipe(
+              switchMap(startEvent =>
+                  fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchmove")
+                      .pipe(
+                          takeUntil(fromEvent(documentToSwipe.nativeElement, "touchend"))
+                          , map(event => event['touches'][0].pageX)
+                          , scan((acc, pageX) => Math.round(startEvent['touches'][0].pageX - pageX), 0)
+                          , takeLast(1)
+                          , filter(difference => difference >= swipeDistance)
+                      )))
+      // Subscription
+      swipeLeft$.subscribe(val => {
+        this.changeMenuState({close: true})
+      })
+    }
   }
 
 }