Index: applications/editors/josm/plugins/importvec/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/plugins/importvec/SvgImportTask.java
===================================================================
--- applications/editors/josm/plugins/importvec/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/plugins/importvec/SvgImportTask.java	(revision 35197)
+++ applications/editors/josm/plugins/importvec/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/plugins/importvec/SvgImportTask.java	(revision 35198)
@@ -177,7 +177,10 @@
                 }
                 SVGDiagram diagram = universe.getDiagram(f.toURI());
+                if (diagram == null) {
+                    throw new IOException("Can't read SVG diagram: " + f.toURI());
+                }
                 ShapeElement root = diagram.getRoot();
                 if (root == null) {
-                    throw new IOException("Can't find root SVG element");
+                    throw new IOException("Can't find root SVG element: " + diagram);
                 }
                 Rectangle2D bbox = root.getBoundingBox();