diff --git a/omod/src/main/java/org/openmrs/web/controller/report/CohortReportFormController.java b/omod/src/main/java/org/openmrs/web/controller/report/CohortReportFormController.java
index 82cc6dc..b2445fd 100644
--- a/omod/src/main/java/org/openmrs/web/controller/report/CohortReportFormController.java
+++ b/omod/src/main/java/org/openmrs/web/controller/report/CohortReportFormController.java
@@ -391,12 +391,17 @@ protected ModelAndView onSubmit(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse
 	}
 	
 	private Node findChild(Node parent, String name) {
+		if (parent == null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		
 		NodeList list = parent.getChildNodes();
 		for (int i = 0; i < list.getLength(); ++i) {
 			Node node = list.item(i);
 			if (node.getNodeName().equals(name))
 				return node;
 		}
+		
 		return null;
 	}