diff --git a/src/kiri/slicer.js b/src/kiri/slicer.js
index f5f30096..93873440 100644
--- a/src/kiri/slicer.js
+++ b/src/kiri/slicer.js
@@ -162,6 +162,11 @@
             }
         }
 
+        /** short-circuit for microscopic and invalid objects */
+        if (zMax == 0 || zSum == 0 || points.length == 0) {
+            return ondone([]);
+        }
+
         /**
          * bucket polygons into z-bounded groups (inside or crossing)
          * to reduce the search space in complex models