diff --git a/plugins/XPSSpectrum.java b/plugins/XPSSpectrum.java
index 6c835273..1d17c249 100644
--- a/plugins/XPSSpectrum.java
+++ b/plugins/XPSSpectrum.java
@@ -783,9 +783,11 @@ public class XPSSpectrum extends Panel {
     private void comboPassActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {//GEN-FIRST:event_comboPassActionPerformed
         try {
             scienta = (Scienta) getDevice("Scienta");
-            int energy = Integer.valueOf(comboPass.getSelectedItem().toString());
-            if (energy != scienta.getPassEnergy()){
-                scienta.setPassEnergy(energy);            
+            if (scienta!=null){
+                int energy = Integer.valueOf(comboPass.getSelectedItem().toString());
+                if (energy != scienta.getPassEnergy()){
+                    scienta.setPassEnergy(energy);            
+                }
             }
         } catch (Exception ex) {
             getLogger().log(Level.WARNING, null, ex);