diff --git a/rct229/rule_engine/rule_base.py b/rct229/rule_engine/rule_base.py
index d5ee3558b2..ebf7398c4d 100644
--- a/rct229/rule_engine/rule_base.py
+++ b/rct229/rule_engine/rule_base.py
@@ -172,8 +172,17 @@ def evaluate(self, rmds, data={}):
                             # Evaluate the actual rule check
                             result = self.rule_check(context, calc_vals, data)
                             if isinstance(result, list):
-                                # The result is a list of outcomes
-                                outcome["result"] = result
+                                if len(result) == 0:
+                                    # empty list:
+                                    outcome["result"] = RCTOutcomeLabel.NOT_APPLICABLE
+                                    not_applicable_msg = self.get_not_applicable_msg(
+                                        context, data
+                                    )
+                                    if not_applicable_msg:
+                                        outcome["message"] = not_applicable_msg
+                                    # The result is a list of outcomes
+                                else:
+                                    outcome["result"] = result
                             # using is False to include the None case.
                             elif self.is_primary_rule is False:
                                 # secondary rule applicability check true-> undetermined, false -> not_applicable
diff --git a/rct229/rule_engine/rule_list_indexed_base.py b/rct229/rule_engine/rule_list_indexed_base.py
index a1c4818359..371769634c 100644
--- a/rct229/rule_engine/rule_list_indexed_base.py
+++ b/rct229/rule_engine/rule_list_indexed_base.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from rct229.rule_engine.rule_list_base import RuleDefinitionListBase
 from rct229.rule_engine.ruleset_model_factory import get_rmd_instance
+from rct229.utils.assertions import assert_
 from rct229.utils.json_utils import slash_prefix_guarantee
 from rct229.utils.jsonpath_utils import find_all
 from rct229.utils.match_lists import match_lists
@@ -140,9 +141,15 @@ def create_context_list(self, context, data):
         list_context = get_rmd_instance()
         for ruleset_model in list_context.get_ruleset_model_types():
             if self.rmds_used[ruleset_model]:
-                list_context.__setitem__(
-                    ruleset_model, find_all(self.list_path, context[ruleset_model])
+                tmp_context_list = find_all(self.list_path, context[ruleset_model])
+                # handles a case when there is no element available to the target list path.
+                # This is set to an internal error handling since list_path is defined as part of rule logic.
+                assert_(
+                    tmp_context_list,
+                    f"List path {self.list_path} in rule {self.id} is either incorrect or has no data.",
                 )
+
+                list_context.__setitem__(ruleset_model, tmp_context_list)
             else:
                 list_context.__setitem__(ruleset_model, None)