diff --git a/python/test/pyModel_TEST.py b/python/test/pyModel_TEST.py
index ce8d7e5b4..2fcb021df 100644
--- a/python/test/pyModel_TEST.py
+++ b/python/test/pyModel_TEST.py
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ def test_default_construction(self):
         self.assertEqual(errors[1].message(),
             "PoseRelativeToGraph error: scope does not point to a valid graph.")
 
+        # model dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+        self.assertFalse(model.name_exists_in_frame_attached_to_graph(""));
+        self.assertFalse(model.name_exists_in_frame_attached_to_graph("link"));
+
 
     def test_copy_construction(self):
         model = Model()
diff --git a/python/test/pyWorld_TEST.py b/python/test/pyWorld_TEST.py
index 63fe26a01..73947b0a9 100644
--- a/python/test/pyWorld_TEST.py
+++ b/python/test/pyWorld_TEST.py
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ def test_default_construction(self):
         self.assertEqual(errors[1].message(),
           "PoseRelativeToGraph error: scope does not point to a valid graph.")
 
+        # world dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+        self.assertFalse(world.name_exists_in_frame_attached_to_graph(""));
+        self.assertFalse(world.name_exists_in_frame_attached_to_graph("link"));
+
 
     def test_copy_construction(self):
         world = World()
diff --git a/src/Model_TEST.cc b/src/Model_TEST.cc
index 0da219e48..4f1e710cc 100644
--- a/src/Model_TEST.cc
+++ b/src/Model_TEST.cc
@@ -154,6 +154,10 @@ TEST(DOMModel, Construction)
     errors[1].Message().find(
       "PoseRelativeToGraph error: scope does not point to a valid graph"))
       << errors[1];
+
+  // model dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+  EXPECT_FALSE(model.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph(""));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(model.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph("link"));
 }
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -229,6 +233,9 @@ TEST(DOMModel, AddLink)
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, model.LinkCount());
   EXPECT_FALSE(model.AddLink(link));
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, model.LinkCount());
+  // model dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+  EXPECT_FALSE(model.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph(""));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(model.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph("link1"));
 
   model.ClearLinks();
   EXPECT_EQ(0u, model.LinkCount());
diff --git a/src/World_TEST.cc b/src/World_TEST.cc
index 88679e4e5..5f912f3c7 100644
--- a/src/World_TEST.cc
+++ b/src/World_TEST.cc
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ TEST(DOMWorld, Construction)
   EXPECT_NE(std::string::npos,
     errors[1].Message().find(
       "PoseRelativeToGraph error: scope does not point to a valid graph"));
+
+  // world dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+  EXPECT_FALSE(world.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph(""));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(world.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph("model1"));
 }
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -384,6 +388,9 @@ TEST(DOMWorld, AddModel)
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, world.ModelCount());
   EXPECT_FALSE(world.AddModel(model));
   EXPECT_EQ(1u, world.ModelCount());
+  // world dosn't have graphs, so no names should exist in graphs
+  EXPECT_FALSE(world.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph(""));
+  EXPECT_FALSE(world.NameExistsInFrameAttachedToGraph("model1"));
 
   world.ClearModels();
   EXPECT_EQ(0u, world.ModelCount());