diff --git a/kontor-spring/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/admin/services/MetaDataService.java b/kontor-spring/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/admin/services/MetaDataService.java
index 89da070..a60829d 100644
--- a/kontor-spring/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/admin/services/MetaDataService.java
+++ b/kontor-spring/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/admin/services/MetaDataService.java
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@ public class MetaDataService {
     public void getColumn(MetaDataTable table, String columnName, String columnSyncName, String columnType, String columnModifier, Integer columnOrder, Boolean isShown, String columnLabel, Boolean showFilter, String filterLabel, String refColumn) {
         log.info("check if column {} of table {} exists", columnName, table.getTableName());
         boolean columnNameExists = table.getTableColumns().stream().anyMatch(column -> column.getColumnName().equals(columnName));
-        boolean columnOrderExists = table.getTableColumns().get(columnOrder-1) != null;
+        boolean columnOrderExists = false;
+        if (table.getTableColumns().size() > columnOrder-1) {
+            columnOrderExists = table.getTableColumns().get(columnOrder-1) != null;
+        }
         List<MetaDataColumn> metaDataColumns = metaDataColumnRepository.findByTableAndColumnName(table, columnName);
         log.debug("column found: name: {}, order: {}:  table.columns: {}", columnNameExists, columnOrderExists, metaDataColumns);
         if (columnOrderExists) {