diff --git a/packages/block-library/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/block-library/CHANGELOG.md
index 34ac5b9d4807d9..30a19230105eaa 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/block-library/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 - Add vertical alignment controls to `columns` Block ([#13899](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/13899/)).
 
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- fix uncaught error in `columns` block due to accessing a property on an object that might be undefined [#14605](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/14605)
+
 ## 2.3.0 (2019-03-06)
 
 ### New Feature
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/columns/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/columns/edit.js
index af5431807645d4..206b313427cf99 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/columns/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/columns/edit.js
@@ -82,15 +82,18 @@ export const ColumnsEdit = function( { attributes, setAttributes, className, upd
 	);
 };
 
+const DEFAULT_EMPTY_ARRAY = [];
+
 export default compose(
 	/**
 	 * Selects the child column Blocks for this parent Column
 	 */
 	withSelect( ( select, { clientId } ) => {
 		const { getBlocksByClientId } = select( 'core/editor' );
+		const block = getBlocksByClientId( clientId )[ 0 ];
 
 		return {
-			childColumns: getBlocksByClientId( clientId )[ 0 ].innerBlocks,
+			childColumns: block ? block.innerBlocks : DEFAULT_EMPTY_ARRAY,
 		};
 	} ),
 	withDispatch( ( dispatch, { clientId, childColumns } ) => {