diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/scripts/DeclarativeWebScriptRegistry.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/scripts/DeclarativeWebScriptRegistry.java
index 5616b3e380..8af3c70abe 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/scripts/DeclarativeWebScriptRegistry.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/scripts/DeclarativeWebScriptRegistry.java
@@ -377,8 +377,12 @@ public class DeclarativeWebScriptRegistry implements WebScriptRegistry, Applicat
             String shortName = shortNameElement.getTextTrim();
 
             // retrieve description
+            String description = null;
             Element descriptionElement = rootElement.element("description");
-            String description = descriptionElement.getTextTrim();
+            if (descriptionElement != null)
+            {
+                description = descriptionElement.getTextTrim();
+            }
             
             // retrieve urls
             List urlElements = rootElement.elements("url");