Index: src/orca/Gecko.py
===================================================================
--- src/orca/Gecko.py	(revision 2070)
+++ src/orca/Gecko.py	(working copy)
@@ -3092,11 +3092,12 @@
         while obj:
             extents = self.getExtents(
                 obj, characterOffset, characterOffset + 1)
-            if characterOffset > 0:
-                previousChar = \
+            if obj.text:
+                if characterOffset > 0:
+                    previousChar = \
                         obj.text.getText(characterOffset - 1, characterOffset)
-            currentChar = obj.text.getText(characterOffset,
-                                           characterOffset + 1)
+                currentChar = obj.text.getText(characterOffset,
+                                               characterOffset + 1)
 
             #print "GPL LOOKING AT", obj.role, extents
 
@@ -3165,10 +3166,11 @@
         while obj:
             extents = self.getExtents(
                 obj, characterOffset, characterOffset + 1)
-            if characterOffset > 0:
-                previousChar = \
+            if obj.text:
+                if characterOffset > 0:
+                    previousChar = \
                         obj.text.getText(characterOffset - 1, characterOffset)
-            currentChar = \
+                currentChar = \
                         obj.text.getText(characterOffset, characterOffset + 1)
 
             #print "GNL LOOKING AT", obj.role, extents
