diff --git a/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Encoding.php b/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Encoding.php
index 1ed446c0..511411b8 100644
--- a/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Encoding.php
+++ b/src/Smalot/PdfParser/Encoding.php
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ protected function getEncodingClass(): string
         $baseEncoding = preg_replace('/[^A-Z0-9]/is', '', $this->get('BaseEncoding')->getContent());
 
         // Check for empty BaseEncoding field value
-        if ('' == $baseEncoding) {
+        if (!\is_string($baseEncoding) || 0 == \strlen($baseEncoding)) {
             $baseEncoding = 'StandardEncoding';
         }