diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/BaseArrayList.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/BaseArrayList.java
index 47bee33d..e8a5e54f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/util/BaseArrayList.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/util/BaseArrayList.java
@@ -70,16 +70,15 @@ public abstract class BaseArrayList<E> extends AbstractList<E>
         if (target.length < _size) {
             target = (T[])Array.newInstance(
                 target.getClass().getComponentType(), _size);
-        }
 
+        } else if (target.length > _size) {
+            // terminate with null if there is room to spare, per the spec
+            target[_size] = null;
+        }
         // copy the elements
         if (_elements != null) {
             System.arraycopy(_elements, 0, target, 0, _size);
         }
-        // terminate with null if there is room to spare, per the spec
-        if (target.length > _size) {
-            target[_size] = null;
-        }
         return target;
     }