diff --git a/place.go b/place.go
index b540c94..6cc2c27 100644
--- a/place.go
+++ b/place.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package main
 import (
 	// "os"
 
+	"os"
+
 	"go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui"
 	_ "go.wit.com/dev/andlabs/ui/winmanifest"
 
@@ -41,6 +43,12 @@ func place(p *tree.Node, n *tree.Node) bool {
 	log.Log(INFO, "place() 1 START", n.WidgetType, n.GetProgName(), n.GetLabel())
 	if p == nil {
 		log.Log(WARN, "place() parent == nil")
+		os.Exit(-1)
+		return false
+	}
+	if n == nil {
+		log.Log(WARN, "place() node == nil")
+		os.Exit(-1)
 		return false
 	}
 	if !ready(n) {