diff --git a/lib/controller/checks.py b/lib/controller/checks.py
index 751f297583c..1ebbb81c4c0 100644
--- a/lib/controller/checks.py
+++ b/lib/controller/checks.py
@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ def checkSqlInjection(place, parameter, value):
                 })
 
             if stype == PAYLOAD.TECHNIQUE.UNION:
+                if "char" not in test.request:
+                    logger.debug("skipping malformed UNION test '%s' because its request has no character" % title)
+                    continue
+
                 configUnion(test.request.char)
 
                 if "[CHAR]" in title:
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 1697989c9da..05603e09e06 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from thirdparty import six
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.10.8.56"
+VERSION = "1.10.8.57"
 TYPE = "dev" if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] != '0' else "stable"
 TYPE_COLORS = {"dev": 33, "stable": 90, "pip": 34}
 VERSION_STRING = "sqlmap/%s#%s" % ('.'.join(VERSION.split('.')[:-1]) if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] == '0' else VERSION, TYPE)