diff --git a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplaySearch.cs b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplaySearch.cs
index c309e023..cbe092c6 100644
--- a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplaySearch.cs
+++ b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/DisplaySearch.cs
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 
 		void tabSearchTypes_SelectedTabChanged(object sender, TabStripTabChangedEventArgs e)
 		{
-			wordSectionTreeNode.Enabled = true;
+			if(wordSectionTreeNode != null) //B2020-070 NULL reference check
+				wordSectionTreeNode.Enabled = true;
 			btnSearch.Enabled = true;
 			if (e.NewTab == tabROSearch)
 			{
@@ -172,8 +173,11 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 			}
 			else if (e.NewTab == tabTranSearch)
 			{
-				wordSectionTreeNode.Enabled = false;		// C2020-010: Disable Word Section choice for Transition search
-				wordSectionTreeNode.Checked = false;
+				if (wordSectionTreeNode != null) //B2020-070 NULL reference check
+				{
+					wordSectionTreeNode.Enabled = false;		// C2020-010: Disable Word Section choice for Transition search
+					wordSectionTreeNode.Checked = false;
+				}
 				btnSearch.Enabled = (cbxTranCategory.Items.Count > 0); // B2017-038 disable search button if no format selected
 				//enable-disable doc version nodes based on version type if selected
 				if (cbxTranVersion.SelectedIndex > -1)