--- a/components/visual-panels/usermgr/src/java/vpanels/app/usermgr/com/oracle/solaris/vp/panels/usermgr/client/swing/UserMgrUtils.java	Wed May 30 16:11:52 2012 -0700
+++ b/components/visual-panels/usermgr/src/java/vpanels/app/usermgr/com/oracle/solaris/vp/panels/usermgr/client/swing/UserMgrUtils.java	Thu May 31 08:41:19 2012 -0700
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     public static void validateUserDesc(String userdesc)
 	throws ActionFailedException {
 	// Ensure that the user description, if specified, is valid.
-	if (!isValidUserDesc(userdesc)) {
+	if (userdesc == null || !isValidUserDesc(userdesc)) {
 	    throw new ActionFailedException(
 		Finder.getString("usermgr.error.userdesc.bad"));
 	}