diff --git a/python/templates/macros/implementations.jinja2 b/python/templates/macros/implementations.jinja2
index 9a6b7659e..af847145d 100644
--- a/python/templates/macros/implementations.jinja2
+++ b/python/templates/macros/implementations.jinja2
@@ -147,6 +147,9 @@ bool {{ full_type }}::operator==(const {{ inverse_type }}& other) const {
 
 {% macro ostream_operator(type, members, single_relations, multi_relations, get_syntax) %}
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, const {{ type }}& value) {
+  if (!value.isAvailable()) {
+    return o << "[not available]";
+  }
   o << " id: " << value.id() << '\n';
 {% for member in members %}
 {% if member.is_array %}
diff --git a/tests/unittests/unittest.cpp b/tests/unittests/unittest.cpp
index f29771d95..215e84149 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/unittest.cpp
+++ b/tests/unittests/unittest.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,15 @@ TEST_CASE("Assignment-operator ref count", "[basics][memory-management]") {
   }
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("ostream-operator", "[basics]") {
+  // Make sure that trying to print an object that is not available does not crash
+  auto hit = ExampleHit::makeEmpty();
+  REQUIRE_FALSE(hit.isAvailable());
+  std::stringstream sstr;
+  sstr << hit;
+  REQUIRE(sstr.str() == "[not available]");
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("Clearing", "[UBSAN-FAIL][ASAN-FAIL][THREAD-FAIL][basics][memory-management]") {
   auto store = podio::EventStore();
   auto& hits = store.create<ExampleHitCollection>("hits");