diff --git a/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmVEPROMS.cs b/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmVEPROMS.cs
index 47bbae4c..2465f827 100644
--- a/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmVEPROMS.cs	
+++ b/PROMS/VEPROMS User Interface/frmVEPROMS.cs	
@@ -945,7 +945,8 @@ namespace VEPROMS
 			// the steptabribbon.
 			if (tc.ShuttingDown) return;
 			// B2017-202 update the RO tree in the step properties panel
-			if (tc.MyBar.SelectedDockTab > -1)
+			// B2017-205 - displayRO.MyROFST will be null if first thing opened is a Word section so added null check
+			if (tc.MyBar.SelectedDockTab > -1 && displayRO.MyROFST != null)
 			{
 				DisplayTabItem myDTI = tc.MyBar.Items[tc.MyBar.SelectedDockTab] as DisplayTabItem;
 				if (myDTI.MyDSOTabPanel != null)