private void checkExpectedEmpty() {
    // can't check areal features
    if (input.getDimension() >= 2) return;
    // can't check positive distances
    if (distance > 0.0) return;

    // at this point can expect an empty result
    if (!result.isEmpty()) {
      isValid = false;
      errorMsg = "Result is non-empty";
      errorIndicator = result;
    }
    report("ExpectedEmpty");
  }