diff --git a/src/main/java/org/olat/repository/ui/author/RepositoryEditDescriptionController.java b/src/main/java/org/olat/repository/ui/author/RepositoryEditDescriptionController.java
index 63e851c9cc0f9c86fe5379c6929c23bf9194d9eb..ea505a768a9ec73ea5129b6375e6d76c9d297f68 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/olat/repository/ui/author/RepositoryEditDescriptionController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/olat/repository/ui/author/RepositoryEditDescriptionController.java
@@ -385,12 +385,14 @@ public class RepositoryEditDescriptionController extends FormBasicController {
 		allOk &= validateTextElement(expenditureOfWork, 225);
 		allOk &= validateTextElement(authors, 2000);
 		
-		publicDatesEl.clearError();
-		if(publicDatesEl.isEnabled() && publicDatesEl.isVisible()) {
-			if(!publicDatesEl.isOneSelected()) {
-				publicDatesEl.setErrorKey("form.legende.mandatory", null);
-				allOk &= false;
-			}	
+		if (publicDatesEl != null) {
+			publicDatesEl.clearError();
+			if(publicDatesEl.isEnabled() && publicDatesEl.isVisible()) {
+				if(!publicDatesEl.isOneSelected()) {
+					publicDatesEl.setErrorKey("form.legende.mandatory", null);
+					allOk &= false;
+				}	
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Ok, passed all checks