diff --git a/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp b/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
index dbfe2d82c4..51ae6735e8 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
@@ -214,6 +214,10 @@ void NETINFO_LIST::buildListOfNets()
         if( pad->GetNetCode() == NETINFO_LIST::UNCONNECTED ) // pad not connected
             continue;
 
+        if( !( pad->GetLayerSet() & LSET::AllCuMask() ).any() )
+            // pad not a copper layer (happens when building complex shapes)
+            continue;
+
         // Add pad to the appropriate list of pads
         NETINFO_ITEM* net = pad->GetNet();
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/connect.cpp b/pcbnew/connect.cpp
index 99e6eb953f..1b42fbd73b 100644
--- a/pcbnew/connect.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/connect.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ void CONNECTIONS::SearchConnectionsPadsToIntersectingPads()
 
             if( !( pad->GetLayerSet() & candidate_pad->GetLayerSet() ).any() )
                 continue;
+
             if( pad->HitTest( item->GetPoint() ) )
             {
                 pad->m_PadsConnected.push_back( candidate_pad );
@@ -227,6 +228,7 @@ void CONNECTIONS::BuildPadsCandidatesList()
 {
     m_candidates.clear();
     m_candidates.reserve( m_sortedPads.size() );
+
     for( unsigned ii = 0; ii < m_sortedPads.size(); ii++ )
     {
         D_PAD * pad = m_sortedPads[ii];
diff --git a/pcbnew/ratsnest.cpp b/pcbnew/ratsnest.cpp
index fcd3be2236..f36a88524f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/ratsnest.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/ratsnest.cpp
@@ -567,11 +567,15 @@ void PCB_BASE_FRAME::build_ratsnest_module( MODULE* aModule )
         m_Pcb->m_LocalRatsnest.clear();
 
         // collect active pads of the module:
-        for( pad_ref = aModule->Pads();  pad_ref;  pad_ref = pad_ref->Next() )
+        for( pad_ref = aModule->Pads(); pad_ref; pad_ref = pad_ref->Next() )
         {
             if( pad_ref->GetNetCode() == NETINFO_LIST::UNCONNECTED )
                 continue;
 
+            if( !( pad_ref->GetLayerSet() & LSET::AllCuMask() ).any() )
+                // pad not a copper layer (happens when building complex shapes)
+                continue;
+
             localPadList.push_back( pad_ref );
             pad_ref->SetSubRatsnest( 0 );
             pad_ref->SetSubNet( 0 );