my $next_version_key = $ordered_list->[($i+1)]->[0] if( $ordered_list->[($i+1)] ); #### my $next_version_key = $ordered_list->[($i+1)]->[0] || undef; #### [] to @{ $ordered_list } #### [ undef, {} ] #### [ ${\$VAR1->[3][0]}, {} ] #### my $next_version_key = $ordered_list->[($i+1)]->[0] || 0; #### my $next_version_key = $ordered_list->[($i+1)]->[0] if( $ordered_list->[($i+1)] );