diff --git a/PROMS/DataLoader/DataLoaderSettings.cs b/PROMS/DataLoader/DataLoaderSettings.cs
index 10587b89..e3439654 100644
--- a/PROMS/DataLoader/DataLoaderSettings.cs
+++ b/PROMS/DataLoader/DataLoaderSettings.cs
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ namespace DataLoader
 				}
 				//added by jcb 20121127
 				//check is ProcedureSetPath contains ProcessOnlyInLocation
-				if (ProcedureSetPath.StartsWith(ProcessOnlyInLocation) == false)
+				if (ProcedureSetPath.StartsWith(ProcessOnlyInLocation ?? "") == false)
 				{
 					sb.Append(ErrorPrefix + "Check Process Only In Location value is pointing to similar directory as Procedure Set Path\r\n");
 					ErrorPrefix = "";