Object variable or With block variable not set error

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This error occurs when I search a spreadsheet for nonexistent value. This is so strange, how do I fix it!?
Here's my code:

Sub test()
    Dim xmlSheet As Worksheet
    Dim pvLoc As Variant
    Set xmlSheet = ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1")
    pvLoc = ""
    
    pvLoc = xmlSheet.Cells.Find("111123").Address(False, False)
    If ((pvLoc = "") Or (UCase(Range(pvLoc).Offset(0, 8).value) = "PHONE")) Then Debug.Print "failed"
End Sub

Error is generated by this line: pvLoc = xmlSheet.Cells.Find("111123").Address(False, False)
If the find method is changed to something that is on the spreadsheet, then everything works ok.

[p45cal]

try:

Sub test()
Dim xmlSheet As Worksheet
Dim pvLoc As Range
Set xmlSheet = ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1")
'Set pvLoc = Nothing 'only needed if within a loop.

Set pvLoc = xmlSheet.Cells.Find("111123")
If pvLoc Is Nothing Then
  Debug.Print "failed"
Else
  If pvLoc.Offset(0, 8).Value = "PHONE" Then
    Debug.Print "failed"
  Else
    Debug.Print "success"
  End If
End If
End Sub