diff --git a/src/nautilus-view.c b/src/nautilus-view.c
index f6b9719..fbadd77 100644
--- a/src/nautilus-view.c
+++ b/src/nautilus-view.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static guint signals[LAST_SIGNAL];
 
 static GdkAtom copied_files_atom;
 
-static char *scripts_directory_uri;
+static char *scripts_directory_uri = NULL;
 static int scripts_directory_uri_length;
 
 struct NautilusViewDetails
@@ -2536,8 +2536,12 @@ nautilus_view_init (NautilusView *view)
 
 	set_up_scripts_directory_global ();
 	scripts_directory = nautilus_directory_get_by_uri (scripts_directory_uri);
-	add_directory_to_scripts_directory_list (view, scripts_directory);
-	nautilus_directory_unref (scripts_directory);
+	if (scripts_directory != NULL) {
+		add_directory_to_scripts_directory_list (view, scripts_directory);
+		nautilus_directory_unref (scripts_directory);
+	} else {
+		g_warning ("Ignoring scripts directory, it may be a broken link\n");
+	}
 
 	if (nautilus_should_use_templates_directory ()) {
 		templates_uri = nautilus_get_templates_directory_uri ();
