diff --git a/src/lib/corelib/language/evaluatorscriptclass.cpp b/src/lib/corelib/language/evaluatorscriptclass.cpp
index b7c2576d..a1b1781c 100644
--- a/src/lib/corelib/language/evaluatorscriptclass.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/corelib/language/evaluatorscriptclass.cpp
@@ -177,8 +177,18 @@ private:
             QScriptValue originalValue;
             if (data->item->propertyDeclaration(propertyName->toString()).isScalar()) {
                 const Item *item = itemOfProperty;
-                while (item->type() == ItemType::ModuleInstance)
+                int prototypeCount = 0;
+                while (item && item->type() == ItemType::ModuleInstance) {
                     item = item->prototype();
+                    ++prototypeCount;
+                }
+                if (!item) {
+                    if (!itemOfProperty)
+                        qDebug() << "itemOfProperty was null to begin with";
+                    else
+                        qDebug() << "module instance with null prototype found; overall prototype count is" << prototypeCount;
+                    return result;
+                }
                 if (item->type() != ItemType::Module && item->type() != ItemType::Export) {
                     const QString errorMessage = Tr::tr("The special value 'original' can only "
                                                         "be used with module properties.");