diff --git a/src/Helpers/LTreeHelper.php b/src/Helpers/LTreeHelper.php
index aaaba5c..a73ddd1 100644
--- a/src/Helpers/LTreeHelper.php
+++ b/src/Helpers/LTreeHelper.php
@@ -93,8 +93,11 @@ public static function pathAsString($path): string
 
     public static function getAncestors(Collection $collection): Collection
     {
+        if ($collection->count() === 0) {
+            return new Collection();
+        }
         $first = $collection->first();
-        $paths = $collection->pluck('path')->map(function ($item) {
+        $paths = $collection->pluck($first->getLtreePathColumn())->map(function ($item) {
             return "'${item}'";
         });
         $paths = $paths->implode(', ');
diff --git a/tests/Functional/LtreeTest.php b/tests/Functional/LtreeTest.php
index 53814b0..73937bc 100644
--- a/tests/Functional/LtreeTest.php
+++ b/tests/Functional/LtreeTest.php
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ public function deleteViaServiceSubtree(): void
     /** @test */
     public function ancestors(): void
     {
+        $this->assertCount(0, LTreeHelper::getAncestors(new CollectionBase()));
         $nodes = $this->createTreeNodes($this->getTreeNodes());
         $this->assertSame(3, $nodes[1]::ancestorsOf($nodes[6])->get()->count());
         $this->assertTrue($nodes[2]->isParentOf(5));