diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Base.java b/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
index 68ced5a9c..c76752684 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Base.java
@@ -1520,7 +1520,13 @@ public class Base {
   
   
   static public Map<String, String> getBoardPreferences() {
-    return getTarget().getBoards().get(Preferences.get("board"));
+    Target target = getTarget();
+    if (target == null) return new LinkedHashMap();
+    Map map = target.getBoards();
+    if (map == null) return new LinkedHashMap();
+    map = (Map) map.get(Preferences.get("board"));
+    if (map == null) return new LinkedHashMap();
+    return map;
   }
   
 
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java b/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
index ed951fa67..c6a9d769f 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Sketch.java
@@ -1574,7 +1574,9 @@ public class Sketch {
   protected void size(String buildPath, String suggestedClassName)
     throws RunnerException {
     long size = 0;
-    long maxsize = Integer.parseInt(Base.getBoardPreferences().get("upload.maximum_size"));
+    String maxsizeString = Base.getBoardPreferences().get("upload.maximum_size");
+    if (maxsizeString == null) return;
+    long maxsize = Integer.parseInt(maxsizeString);
     Sizer sizer = new Sizer(buildPath, suggestedClassName);
       try {
       size = sizer.computeSize();
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/debug/Compiler.java b/app/src/processing/app/debug/Compiler.java
index d3ca66ea2..a4d80aa6c 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/debug/Compiler.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/debug/Compiler.java
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ public class Compiler implements MessageConsumer {
     String avrBasePath = Base.getAvrBasePath();
     Map<String, String> boardPreferences = Base.getBoardPreferences();
     String core = boardPreferences.get("build.core");
+    if (core == null) {
+    	RunnerException re = new RunnerException("No board selected; please choose a board from the Tools > Board menu.");
+      re.hideStackTrace();
+      throw re;
+    }
     String corePath;
     
     if (core.indexOf(':') == -1) {