Index: src/main/java/org/apache/maven/continuum/web/action/ReleasePrepareAction.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/maven/continuum/web/action/ReleasePrepareAction.java	(revision 586385)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/maven/continuum/web/action/ReleasePrepareAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -139,29 +139,32 @@
                 {
                     Xpp3Dom dom = (Xpp3Dom) plugin.getConfiguration();
 
-                    Xpp3Dom configuration = dom.getChild( "releaseLabel" );
-                    if ( configuration != null )
+                    if ( dom !=null )
                     {
-                        scmTag = configuration.getValue();
-                    }
-
-                    configuration = dom.getChild( "tag" );
-                    if ( configuration != null )
-                    {
-                        scmTag = configuration.getValue();
-                    }
-
-                    configuration = dom.getChild( "tagBase" );
-                    if ( configuration != null )
-                    {
-                        scmTagBase = configuration.getValue();
-                    }
-
-                    configuration = dom.getChild( "preparationGoals" );
-                    if ( configuration != null )
-                    {
-                        prepareGoals = configuration.getValue();
-                    }
+	                    Xpp3Dom configuration = dom.getChild( "releaseLabel" );
+	                    if ( configuration != null )
+	                    {
+	                        scmTag = configuration.getValue();
+	                    }
+	
+	                    configuration = dom.getChild( "tag" );
+	                    if ( configuration != null )
+	                    {
+	                        scmTag = configuration.getValue();
+	                    }
+	
+	                    configuration = dom.getChild( "tagBase" );
+	                    if ( configuration != null )
+	                    {
+	                        scmTagBase = configuration.getValue();
+	                    }
+	
+	                    configuration = dom.getChild( "preparationGoals" );
+	                    if ( configuration != null )
+	                    {
+	                        prepareGoals = configuration.getValue();
+	                    }
+                	}
                 }
             }
         }