diff --git a/onnxscript/rewriter/_matcher.py b/onnxscript/rewriter/_matcher.py
index a007926c37..e8fc6a8a3d 100644
--- a/onnxscript/rewriter/_matcher.py
+++ b/onnxscript/rewriter/_matcher.py
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ def _match_node(self, pattern_node: _pattern_ir.NodePattern, node: ir.Node) -> b
                 return False
 
         for i, output_value_pattern in enumerate(pattern_node.outputs):
+            # When trying to bind more outputs (from the pattern) than there are
+            # actual outputs of the candidate node, reject the node before even
+            # trying to index into the list of node outputs.
+            if i >= len(node.outputs):
+                return False
+
             if not self._match.bind_value(output_value_pattern, node.outputs[i]):
                 return False