diff --git a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepItem.cs b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepItem.cs
index be177fff..7fad86ef 100644
--- a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepItem.cs
+++ b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepItem.cs
@@ -1390,6 +1390,10 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 		}
 		public StepItem PasteReplace(int copyStartID)
 		{
+			// To allow a Paste Step into an empty (new) step/substep, we need to add a character to the the Text field
+			// to simulate replacing an existing step -  otherwise we will get null references.
+			if (MyStepPanel.SelectedStepRTB.Text == "")
+				MyStepPanel.SelectedStepRTB.Text = " ";
 			MyStepPanel.SelectedStepRTB = null; // Unselect the item to be deleted
 			ChildRelation childRelation = _MyChildRelation;
 			StepItem newFocus = null;