diff --git a/momepy/elements.py b/momepy/elements.py
index 4a1a9fee..a1ea7808 100644
--- a/momepy/elements.py
+++ b/momepy/elements.py
@@ -618,7 +618,10 @@ def __init__(
         ):
             possible_matches_index = streets_index.query(cell)
             possible_matches = street_buff.iloc[possible_matches_index]
-            new_geom.append(cell.difference(possible_matches.unary_union))
+            if len(possible_matches) > 0:
+                new_geom.append(cell.difference(possible_matches.unary_union))
+            else:
+                new_geom.append(cell)
 
         print("Defining adjacency...") if verbose else None
         blocks_gdf = gpd.GeoDataFrame(geometry=new_geom)