diff --git a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepTabRibbon.cs b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepTabRibbon.cs
index 35febf25..fbe3734c 100644
--- a/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepTabRibbon.cs
+++ b/PROMS/Volian.Controls.Library/StepTabRibbon.cs
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ namespace Volian.Controls.Library
 		{
 			DevComponents.DotNetBar.BaseItem btn = sender as DevComponents.DotNetBar.BaseItem;
 			ItemInfo ii = ItemInfo.Get(int.Parse(btn.Tag.ToString()));
-			if (ii.ItemID != MyItemInfo.ItemID)
+			if (ii == null || ii.ItemID != MyItemInfo.ItemID) //B2018-116 null reference check - allow user to unlink a background step that has invalid ItemId
 			{
 				// if button name starts with btnEnhancedTo... open it, otherwise, unlink:
 				if (btn.Name.StartsWith("btnEnhancedTo"))