diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -399,12 +399,12 @@ function resolve(pantry, ingredient, entryPoint, config) {
 			return pantryInstance;
 		}
 
-		var ingredientInstance = pantryInstance.ingredients[ingredient];
-
-		if (!ingredientInstance) {
+		if (!pantryInstance.ingredients.hasOwnProperty(ingredient)) {
 			throw new IngredientDoesNotExistError(pantry, ingredient);
 		}
 
+		var ingredientInstance = pantryInstance.ingredients[ingredient];
+
 		if (!entryPoint) {
 			// we are resolving an ingredient, so we're done
 			return ingredientInstance;
better check for presence of ingredient within pantry fixes #<I> (#<I>)