diff --git a/Source/NSUserDefaults.m b/Source/NSUserDefaults.m
index e88d8e9a4..e1e7e0f43 100644
--- a/Source/NSUserDefaults.m
+++ b/Source/NSUserDefaults.m
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ static NSMutableString   *processName = nil;
 	
   [sharedDefaults __createStandardSearchList];
 
+  if (sharedDefaults)
     {
       NSUserDefaults	*defs;
       NSDictionary	*registrationDefaults;
@@ -197,6 +198,10 @@ static NSMutableString   *processName = nil;
 		nil];
       [sharedDefaults registerDefaults: registrationDefaults];
     }
+  else
+    {
+      NSLog(@"WARNING - unable to create shared user defaults!\n");
+    }
   return sharedDefaults;
 }