diff --git a/src/main/java/org/olat/modules/portfolio/ui/PageListDataModel.java b/src/main/java/org/olat/modules/portfolio/ui/PageListDataModel.java
index 94981638d628980e9f64f12c18bb0ddb34b9ab23..dd9221783887a09e6bc88ae9d6df0af3b61b7b83 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/olat/modules/portfolio/ui/PageListDataModel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/olat/modules/portfolio/ui/PageListDataModel.java
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ public class PageListDataModel extends DefaultFlexiTableDataModel<PortfolioEleme
 				row.setNewEntry(false);
 			}
 			if(row.isAssignmentToInstantiate()) {
-				if(previousRow.isSection()) {
+				if(previousRow != null && previousRow.isSection()) {
 					previousRow.setSectionWithAssignmentToInstantiate(true);
 				}
 			}