diff --git a/spb/backends/bokeh/bokeh.py b/spb/backends/bokeh/bokeh.py
index e62bbd1..b8520be 100644
--- a/spb/backends/bokeh/bokeh.py
+++ b/spb/backends/bokeh/bokeh.py
@@ -273,7 +273,13 @@ def _init_cyclers(self):
     @property
     def fig(self):
         """Returns the figure."""
-        if len(self.renderers) > 0 and len(self.renderers[0].handles) == 0:
+        if (
+            (len(self.renderers) > 0) and
+            (
+                (self.renderers[0] and len(self.renderers[0].handles) == 0)
+                or (self.renderers[0] is None)
+            )
+        ):
             # if the backend was created without showing it
             self.draw()
         return self._fig
diff --git a/spb/backends/k3d/k3d.py b/spb/backends/k3d/k3d.py
index 5b9ef69..55c13d9 100644
--- a/spb/backends/k3d/k3d.py
+++ b/spb/backends/k3d/k3d.py
@@ -205,7 +205,13 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
     @property
     def fig(self):
         """Returns the figure."""
-        if len(self.renderers) > 0 and len(self.renderers[0].handles) == 0:
+        if (
+            (len(self.renderers) > 0) and
+            (
+                (self.renderers[0] and len(self.renderers[0].handles) == 0)
+                or (self.renderers[0] is None)
+            )
+        ):
             # if the backend was created without showing it
             self._process_renderers()
         return self._fig