diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
index fe0ba9a90795df4397e9c603b87e6d6869393e31..711904ba2ad2e3f1dbafe026e515a7bb67ce0d4f 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
@@ -285,7 +285,9 @@ public class VCFview extends JPanel
       markNewStops.setSelected(false);
       markNewStops.setEnabled(false);
       topPanel = new JMenuBar();
-      frame.setJMenuBar((JMenuBar)topPanel);
+      
+      if(frame != null)
+        frame.setJMenuBar((JMenuBar)topPanel);
       
       JMenu fileMenu = new JMenu("File");
       topPanel.add(fileMenu);