diff --git a/addons/io_scene_gltf2/blender/imp/gltf2_blender_node.py b/addons/io_scene_gltf2/blender/imp/gltf2_blender_node.py
index 041bf1ebf..8e0d7cbb1 100644
--- a/addons/io_scene_gltf2/blender/imp/gltf2_blender_node.py
+++ b/addons/io_scene_gltf2/blender/imp/gltf2_blender_node.py
@@ -184,6 +184,10 @@ def visit(id):  # Depth-first walk
     @staticmethod
     def create_mesh_object(gltf, vnode):
         pynode = gltf.data.nodes[vnode.mesh_node_idx]
+        if not (0 <= pynode.mesh < len(gltf.data.meshes)):
+            # Avoid traceback for invalid gltf file: invalid reference to meshes array
+            # So return an empty blender object)
+            return bpy.data.objects.new(vnode.name or mesh.name, None)
         pymesh = gltf.data.meshes[pynode.mesh]
 
         # Key to cache the Blender mesh by.