diff --git a/src/kits/interface/ZombieReplicantView.cpp b/src/kits/interface/ZombieReplicantView.cpp
index 4e46884156..f9c6dcd2dc 100644
--- a/src/kits/interface/ZombieReplicantView.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/interface/ZombieReplicantView.cpp
@@ -70,9 +70,10 @@ _BZombieReplicantView_::MessageReceived(BMessage* msg)
 			BAlert* alert = new (std::nothrow) BAlert(B_TRANSLATE("Error"),
 				error.String(), B_TRANSLATE("OK"), NULL, NULL,
 				B_WIDTH_AS_USUAL, B_STOP_ALERT);
-			alert->SetFlags(alert->Flags() | B_CLOSE_ON_ESCAPE);
-			if (alert != NULL)
+			if (alert != NULL) {
+				alert->SetFlags(alert->Flags() | B_CLOSE_ON_ESCAPE);
 				alert->Go();
+			}
 
 			break;
 		}