diff --git a/src/com/android/browser/Controller.java b/src/com/android/browser/Controller.java
index 8dc05f8..8238d77 100644
--- a/src/com/android/browser/Controller.java
+++ b/src/com/android/browser/Controller.java
@@ -1876,7 +1876,8 @@
     }
 
     boolean isInLoad() {
-        return getCurrentTab().inPageLoad();
+        final Tab tab = getCurrentTab();
+        return (tab != null) && tab.inPageLoad();
     }
 
     // bookmark handling