diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/genebuilder/gff/PropertiesPanel.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/genebuilder/gff/PropertiesPanel.java
index da00b61a398184ae940f3e24df7c81ed4faf61e9..8fc05bc09d844b73500116164ba45011ab014d9a 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/genebuilder/gff/PropertiesPanel.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/genebuilder/gff/PropertiesPanel.java
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ public class PropertiesPanel extends JPanel
     
     
     Qualifier obsoleteQualifier = gffQualifiers.getQualifierByName("isObsolete");
+    if(obsoleteQualifier == null)
+      return;
     boolean isObsolete = Boolean.parseBoolean((String) obsoleteQualifier.getValues().get(0));
     obsoleteField = new JCheckBox("obsolete", isObsolete);
     obsoleteField.setPreferredSize(calcPreferred(obsoleteField.getPreferredSize().width));