diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d7a3b2c..52220f4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [0.12.2] - 2026-04-01
+
+### Fixed
+- Route guard property `"?"` is now restricted to function type only, preventing accidental assignment of sub-routes objects (closes #10)
+
 ## [0.12.1] - 2026-04-01
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/packages/esroute-lit/package.json b/packages/esroute-lit/package.json
index 8088d4a..382cbac 100644
--- a/packages/esroute-lit/package.json
+++ b/packages/esroute-lit/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@esroute/lit",
-  "version": "0.12.1",
+  "version": "0.12.2",
   "description": "A small efficient client-side routing library for lit, written in TypeScript.",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "sideEffects": false,
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     "typescript": "^5.4.5"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "esroute": "^0.12.1",
+    "esroute": "^0.12.2",
     "lit": "^3.1.1"
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/esroute/package.json b/packages/esroute/package.json
index 42f450e..f678caa 100644
--- a/packages/esroute/package.json
+++ b/packages/esroute/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "esroute",
-  "version": "0.12.1",
+  "version": "0.12.2",
   "description": "A small efficient framework-agnostic client-side routing library, written in TypeScript.",
   "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
diff --git a/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.spec.ts b/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.spec.ts
index 57ce57c..3e2aab8 100644
--- a/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.spec.ts
@@ -273,6 +273,17 @@ describe("Resolver", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("types", () => {
+    it("should not allow a route object as guard", () => {
+      // @ts-expect-error "?" must be a function, not a sub-routes object
+      const _routes: Routes = { "?": { foo: () => "foo" } };
+    });
+
+    it("should allow a function as guard", () => {
+      const _routes: Routes = { "?": () => undefined };
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("redirects", () => {
     it("should resolve a redirect via calling 'go()'", async () => {
       const navOpts = new NavOpts("/foo");
diff --git a/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.ts b/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.ts
index b69ec2f..9a63fb6 100644
--- a/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.ts
+++ b/packages/esroute/src/route-resolver.ts
@@ -49,13 +49,13 @@ const getResolves = async (
 ): Promise<Resolve[] | null> => {
   const { path, params } = opts;
   const resolves: Resolve[] = [];
-  let routes: Routes | Resolve | null = root;
+  let routes: Routes | Resolve | null | undefined = root;
   for (let i = 0; i < path.length; i++) {
     const part = path[i];
     if (!routes || typeof routes === "function") return null;
     const redirect = await checkGuard(routes, opts);
     if (redirect) return [() => redirect];
-    const virtual: Routes | Resolve | void = routes[""];
+    const virtual: Routes | Resolve | undefined = routes[""];
     if (typeof virtual === "function") resolves.unshift(virtual);
     if (part in routes) routes = routes[part];
     else if ("*" in routes) {
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ const getResolves = async (
       resolves.unshift(routes);
       return resolves;
     }
+    if (!routes) return null;
     const redirect = await checkGuard(routes, opts);
     if (redirect) return [() => redirect];
   } while ((routes = routes[""]));
diff --git a/packages/esroute/src/routes.ts b/packages/esroute/src/routes.ts
index ca9563f..ad2cdc3 100644
--- a/packages/esroute/src/routes.ts
+++ b/packages/esroute/src/routes.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ export type Resolve<T = any, S = any> = (
 ) => T | NavOpts<S> | Promise<T | NavOpts<S>>;
 
 export interface Routes<T = any, S = any> {
-  [k: string]: Routes<T, S> | Resolve<T, S>;
+  "?"?: Resolve<T, S>;
+  [k: string]: Routes<T, S> | Resolve<T, S> | undefined;
 }
 
 // Depth counter using a string to track recursion depth (max 10 levels)