diff --git a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Format/PlantFormat.cs b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Format/PlantFormat.cs
index d9b8b3c6..3c5be05b 100644
--- a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Format/PlantFormat.cs
+++ b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Format/PlantFormat.cs
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ namespace VEPROMS.CSLA.Library
 		{
 			get
 			{
-				if (_TopTemplateTypes == null)
+				if (_TopTemplateTypes == null && Templates != null)
 				{
 					_TopTemplateTypes = new Dictionary<int, int>();
 					// loop through all of templates to find those that are top level, i.e.
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ namespace VEPROMS.CSLA.Library
 					NewTemplateFormat = false;
 					// count newlines - which gives number of template records.
 					int NumTemplates = 0;
+					if (TPL == null) return null;
 					int indx = TPL.IndexOf('\n');
 					while (indx > -1)
 					{