diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ListUtil.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ListUtil.java
index 3e29013b..e9b37c17 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ListUtil.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ListUtil.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: ListUtil.java,v 1.11 2002/12/12 00:29:39 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: ListUtil.java,v 1.12 2003/07/15 00:31:54 ray Exp $
 
 package com.samskivert.util;
 
@@ -308,11 +308,13 @@ public class ListUtil
     protected static int indexOf (
         EqualityComparator eqc, Object[] list, Object element)
     {
-        int llength = list.length; // no optimizing bastards
-        for (int i = 0; i < llength; i++) {
-            Object elem = list[i];
-            if (eqc.equals(elem, element)) {
-                return i;
+        if (list != null) {
+            int llength = list.length; // no optimizing bastards
+            for (int i = 0; i < llength; i++) {
+                Object elem = list[i];
+                if (eqc.equals(elem, element)) {
+                    return i;
+                }
             }
         }
         return -1;
diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/SortableArrayList.java
index a407f408..9f44353d 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 1.15 2003/07/15 00:30:30 ray Exp $
+// $Id: SortableArrayList.java,v 1.16 2003/07/15 00:31:54 ray Exp $
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001 Michael Bayne
@@ -237,10 +237,6 @@ public class SortableArrayList extends AbstractList
     // documentation inherited from interface
     public int indexOf  (Object o)
     {
-        if (_elements == null) {
-            return -1;
-        }
-
         return ListUtil.indexOfEqual(_elements, o);
     }