diff --git a/components/esm_store/cell_store.hpp b/components/esm_store/cell_store.hpp
index 1336cc2ab..19cb34c01 100644
--- a/components/esm_store/cell_store.hpp
+++ b/components/esm_store/cell_store.hpp
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ namespace ESMS
     {
         assert (cell);
 
+        if (cell->context.filename.empty())
+            return; // this is a dynamically generated cell -> skipping.
+
         // Reopen the ESM reader and seek to the right position.
         cell->restore (esm);
 
@@ -212,6 +215,9 @@ namespace ESMS
     {
       assert (cell);
 
+        if (cell->context.filename.empty())
+            return; // this is a dynamically generated cell -> skipping.
+
       // Reopen the ESM reader and seek to the right position.
       cell->restore(esm);