diff --git a/messageforums-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/messageforums/DiscussionForumTool.java b/messageforums-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/messageforums/DiscussionForumTool.java
index d02b6cc..dafc2af 100644
--- a/messageforums-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/messageforums/DiscussionForumTool.java
+++ b/messageforums-app/src/java/org/sakaiproject/tool/messageforums/DiscussionForumTool.java
@@ -5271,7 +5271,10 @@ public class DiscussionForumTool
     	{
     		membershipItems = uiPermissionsManager.getTopicItemsSet(selectedTopic.getTopic());
     	}
-    	if (membershipItems == null || membershipItems.size() == 0 && (selectedForum != null && selectedForum.getForum() != null)) {
+    	if (membershipItems == null || membershipItems.size() == 0
+					&& (selectedForum != null && selectedForum.getForum() != null)
+					&& uiPermissionsManager != null)
+			{
     			membershipItems = uiPermissionsManager.getForumItemsSet(selectedForum.getForum());
     	}
     }