diff --git a/change_log.txt b/change_log.txt
index e3487567..381aa8d7 100644
--- a/change_log.txt
+++ b/change_log.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 ===== trunk  =====
+27.09.2011
+- bugfix possible warning "attempt to modify property of non-object" in {section} (issue #34)
+
 26.09.2011
 - bugfix repeated calls to same subtemplate did not make use of cached template object
 
diff --git a/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_section.php b/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_section.php
index fda307a3..ccb7673d 100644
--- a/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_section.php
+++ b/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_section.php
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class Smarty_Internal_Compile_Section extends Smarty_Internal_CompileBase {
 
         $section_name = $_attr['name'];
 
-        $output .= "unset(\$_smarty_tpl->tpl_vars['smarty']->value['section'][$section_name]);\n";
+        $output .= "if (isset(\$_smarty_tpl->tpl_vars['smarty']->value['section'][$section_name])) unset(\$_smarty_tpl->tpl_vars['smarty']->value['section'][$section_name]);\n";
         $section_props = "\$_smarty_tpl->tpl_vars['smarty']->value['section'][$section_name]";
 
         foreach ($_attr as $attr_name => $attr_value) {