diff --git a/src/main/java/org/olat/course/nodes/fo/SettingsController.java b/src/main/java/org/olat/course/nodes/fo/SettingsController.java
index b152722c6adbd1fc967ccf7487b5a9348a093b7c..600f4f2bd95af3acb7914b6c67b5d6f35283f120 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/olat/course/nodes/fo/SettingsController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/olat/course/nodes/fo/SettingsController.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public class SettingsController extends FormBasicController {
 	}
 	
 	public boolean isPseudonymPostAllowed() {
-		return allowPseudonymEl.isAtLeastSelected(1);
+		return allowPseudonymEl == null ? false : allowPseudonymEl.isAtLeastSelected(1);
 	}
 	
 	public boolean isGuestPostAllowed() {
@@ -108,5 +108,4 @@ public class SettingsController extends FormBasicController {
 	protected void formOK(UserRequest ureq) {
 		//
 	}
-
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file