Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java	(revision 17057)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java	(revision 17058)
@@ -1260,5 +1260,7 @@
     @Override
     public void dataChanged(DataChangedEvent event) {
-        refreshDistText(event.getDataset().getSelected());
+        if (event.getDataset() != null) {
+            refreshDistText(event.getDataset().getSelected());
+        }
     }
 }