diff --git a/pointer.ts b/pointer.ts
index d5c5d57..e1a5f7a 100644
--- a/pointer.ts
+++ b/pointer.ts
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@ export class Pointer {
     for (let i = 1, l = this.tokens.length; i < l; i++) {
       parent = value
       key = this.tokens[i]
+      if (['__proto__', 'constructor', 'prototype'].includes(key))
+        continue;
       // not sure if this the best way to handle non-existant paths...
-      value = (parent || {})[key]
+      value = parent?.[key]
     }
     return {parent, key, value}
   }