diff --git a/index/scorch/segment/zap/dict.go b/index/scorch/segment/zap/dict.go
index 55796ffa..e5d71268 100644
--- a/index/scorch/segment/zap/dict.go
+++ b/index/scorch/segment/zap/dict.go
@@ -38,6 +38,33 @@ func (d *Dictionary) PostingsList(term string, except *roaring.Bitmap) (segment.
 }
 
 func (d *Dictionary) postingsList(term []byte, except *roaring.Bitmap, rv *PostingsList) (*PostingsList, error) {
+	if d.fst == nil {
+		return d.postingsListInit(rv, except), nil
+	}
+
+	postingsOffset, exists, err := d.fst.Get(term)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("vellum err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !exists {
+		return d.postingsListInit(rv, except), nil
+	}
+
+	return d.postingsListFromOffset(postingsOffset, except, rv)
+}
+
+func (d *Dictionary) postingsListFromOffset(postingsOffset uint64, except *roaring.Bitmap, rv *PostingsList) (*PostingsList, error) {
+	rv = d.postingsListInit(rv, except)
+
+	err := rv.read(postingsOffset, d)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return rv, nil
+}
+
+func (d *Dictionary) postingsListInit(rv *PostingsList, except *roaring.Bitmap) *PostingsList {
 	if rv == nil {
 		rv = &PostingsList{}
 	} else {
@@ -45,21 +72,7 @@ func (d *Dictionary) postingsList(term []byte, except *roaring.Bitmap, rv *Posti
 	}
 	rv.sb = d.sb
 	rv.except = except
-
-	if d.fst != nil {
-		postingsOffset, exists, err := d.fst.Get(term)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("vellum err: %v", err)
-		}
-		if exists {
-			err = rv.read(postingsOffset, d)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return rv, nil
+	return rv
 }
 
 // Iterator returns an iterator for this dictionary