diff --git a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Extension/ItemExt.cs b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Extension/ItemExt.cs
index 0e64c33d..5a01e70f 100644
--- a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Extension/ItemExt.cs
+++ b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Extension/ItemExt.cs
@@ -3247,6 +3247,7 @@ namespace VEPROMS.CSLA.Library
 		}
 		public int GetSmartTemplateTopLevelIndxOfThisType(int oftype)
 		{
+			if (FormatStepData == null) return -1;
 			FormatData formatData = FormatStepData.MyFormat.PlantFormat.FormatData;
 			if (formatData.TopTemplateTypes == null || formatData.TopTemplateTypes.Count == 0) return -1;
 			if (formatData.TopTemplateTypes.ContainsKey(oftype - 20001)) return formatData.TopTemplateTypes[oftype - 20001];