diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/flash/TextFieldUtil.as b/src/as/com/threerings/flash/TextFieldUtil.as
index f12fa8ec..a6ba966e 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/flash/TextFieldUtil.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/flash/TextFieldUtil.as
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public class TextFieldUtil
     {
         var tf :TextField = (clazz == null) ? new TextField() : TextField(new clazz());
 
-        if ("outlineColor" in initProps) {
+        if ((initProps != null) && ("outlineColor" in initProps)) {
             tf.filters = [ new GlowFilter(uint(initProps["outlineColor"]), 1, 2, 2, 255) ];
         }