Index: /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/projection/ProjectionPreference.java
===================================================================
--- /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/projection/ProjectionPreference.java	(revision 18221)
+++ /trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/preferences/projection/ProjectionPreference.java	(revision 18222)
@@ -453,6 +453,7 @@
         setProjection(id, prefs, false);
 
-        if (PROP_COORDINATES.put(((ICoordinateFormat) coordinatesCombo.getSelectedItem()).getId())) {
-            CoordinateFormatManager.setCoordinateFormat((ICoordinateFormat) coordinatesCombo.getSelectedItem());
+        ICoordinateFormat selectedItem = (ICoordinateFormat) coordinatesCombo.getSelectedItem();
+        if (selectedItem != null && PROP_COORDINATES.put(selectedItem.getId())) {
+            CoordinateFormatManager.setCoordinateFormat(selectedItem);
         }