diff --git a/samples/python/houghcircles.py b/samples/python/houghcircles.py
index 5386fc2102..41d42eb1e1 100755
--- a/samples/python/houghcircles.py
+++ b/samples/python/houghcircles.py
@@ -29,10 +29,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     cimg = src.copy() # numpy function
 
     circles = cv2.HoughCircles(img, cv2.HOUGH_GRADIENT, 1, 10, np.array([]), 100, 30, 1, 30)
-    a, b, c = circles.shape
-    for i in range(b):
-        cv2.circle(cimg, (circles[0][i][0], circles[0][i][1]), circles[0][i][2], (0, 0, 255), 3, cv2.LINE_AA)
-        cv2.circle(cimg, (circles[0][i][0], circles[0][i][1]), 2, (0, 255, 0), 3, cv2.LINE_AA)  # draw center of circle
+    
+    if circles != None: # Check if circles have been found and only then iterate over these and add them to the image
+        a, b, c = circles.shape
+        for i in range(b):
+            cv2.circle(cimg, (circles[0][i][0], circles[0][i][1]), circles[0][i][2], (0, 0, 255), 3, cv2.LINE_AA)
+            cv2.circle(cimg, (circles[0][i][0], circles[0][i][1]), 2, (0, 255, 0), 3, cv2.LINE_AA)  # draw center of circle
 
     cv2.imshow("source", src)
     cv2.imshow("detected circles", cimg)