diff --git a/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/WebEditPageFormGenerator.java b/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/WebEditPageFormGenerator.java
index eea5e3dd3..b932c9d54 100644
--- a/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/WebEditPageFormGenerator.java
+++ b/apps/i2ptunnel/java/src/net/i2p/i2ptunnel/WebEditPageFormGenerator.java
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ class WebEditPageFormGenerator {
         buf.append("\" /><br />\n");
         buf.append("<b>Start automatically?</b> \n");
         buf.append("<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"startOnLoad\" value=\"true\" ");
-        if (controller.getStartOnLoad())
+        if ( (controller != null) && (controller.getStartOnLoad()) )
             buf.append(" checked=\"true\" />\n<br />\n");
         else
             buf.append(" />\n<br />\n");