diff --git a/evolved.lua b/evolved.lua
index 11639a0..0eb07d1 100644
--- a/evolved.lua
+++ b/evolved.lua
@@ -1796,23 +1796,31 @@ local function __chunk_required_fragments(chunk, req_fragment_set, req_fragment_
         fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = nil
         fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size - 1
 
-        local fragment_requires = __sorted_requires[stack_fragment]
-        local fragment_require_list = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_list
-        local fragment_require_count = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_count or 0
+        if stack_fragment < 0 then
+            -- this is a pair fragment, just skip it
+        else
+            local fragment_requires = __sorted_requires[stack_fragment]
+            local fragment_require_list = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_list
+            local fragment_require_count = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_count or 0
 
-        for fragment_require_index = 1, fragment_require_count do
-            ---@cast fragment_require_list -?
-            local required_fragment = fragment_require_list[fragment_require_index]
+            for fragment_require_index = 1, fragment_require_count do
+                ---@cast fragment_require_list -?
+                local required_fragment = fragment_require_list[fragment_require_index]
 
-            if req_fragment_set[required_fragment] then
-                -- this fragment has already been gathered
-            else
-                req_fragment_count = req_fragment_count + 1
-                req_fragment_set[required_fragment] = req_fragment_count
-                req_fragment_list[req_fragment_count] = required_fragment
+                if req_fragment_set[required_fragment] then
+                    -- this fragment has already been gathered
+                else
+                    req_fragment_count = req_fragment_count + 1
+                    req_fragment_set[required_fragment] = req_fragment_count
+                    req_fragment_list[req_fragment_count] = required_fragment
 
-                fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size + 1
-                fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = required_fragment
+                    if required_fragment < 0 then
+                        -- this is a pair fragment, just skip it
+                    else
+                        fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size + 1
+                        fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = required_fragment
+                    end
+                end
             end
         end
     end
@@ -1843,23 +1851,31 @@ local function __fragment_required_fragments(fragment, req_fragment_set, req_fra
         fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = nil
         fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size - 1
 
-        local fragment_requires = __sorted_requires[stack_fragment]
-        local fragment_require_list = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_list
-        local fragment_require_count = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_count or 0
+        if stack_fragment < 0 then
+            -- this is a pair fragment, just skip it
+        else
+            local fragment_requires = __sorted_requires[stack_fragment]
+            local fragment_require_list = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_list
+            local fragment_require_count = fragment_requires and fragment_requires.__item_count or 0
 
-        for fragment_require_index = 1, fragment_require_count do
-            ---@cast fragment_require_list -?
-            local required_fragment = fragment_require_list[fragment_require_index]
+            for fragment_require_index = 1, fragment_require_count do
+                ---@cast fragment_require_list -?
+                local required_fragment = fragment_require_list[fragment_require_index]
 
-            if req_fragment_set[required_fragment] then
-                -- this fragment has already been gathered
-            else
-                req_fragment_count = req_fragment_count + 1
-                req_fragment_set[required_fragment] = req_fragment_count
-                req_fragment_list[req_fragment_count] = required_fragment
+                if req_fragment_set[required_fragment] then
+                    -- this fragment has already been gathered
+                else
+                    req_fragment_count = req_fragment_count + 1
+                    req_fragment_set[required_fragment] = req_fragment_count
+                    req_fragment_list[req_fragment_count] = required_fragment
 
-                fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size + 1
-                fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = required_fragment
+                    if required_fragment < 0 then
+                        -- this is a pair fragment, just skip it
+                    else
+                        fragment_stack_size = fragment_stack_size + 1
+                        fragment_stack[fragment_stack_size] = required_fragment
+                    end
+                end
             end
         end
     end