diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java
index 5a6e56d4..8a7aa430 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: SortableArrayList.java,v 1.13 2003/04/30 22:24:31 ray Exp $
+// $Id: SortableArrayList.java,v 1.14 2003/06/16 18:11:30 mdb Exp $
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001 Michael Bayne
@@ -249,8 +249,11 @@ public class SortableArrayList extends AbstractList
     public Object clone ()
     {
         try {
-            Object[] elDup = new Object[_elements.length];
-            System.arraycopy(_elements, 0, elDup, 0, _elements.length);
+            Object[] elDup = null;
+            if (_elements != null) {
+                elDup = new Object[_elements.length];
+                System.arraycopy(_elements, 0, elDup, 0, _elements.length);
+            }
             SortableArrayList dup = (SortableArrayList) super.clone();
             dup._elements = elDup;