diff --git a/panoramapublic/src/org/labkey/panoramapublic/PanoramaPublicManager.java b/panoramapublic/src/org/labkey/panoramapublic/PanoramaPublicManager.java
index 48070d09..e5338cd6 100644
--- a/panoramapublic/src/org/labkey/panoramapublic/PanoramaPublicManager.java
+++ b/panoramapublic/src/org/labkey/panoramapublic/PanoramaPublicManager.java
@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@ public static ActionURL getRawDataTabUrl(Container container)
 
     public static boolean canBeSymlinkTarget(Container container)
     {
+        // not all webdav files and directories belong to a container
+        if (null == container)
+            return false;
         // Folders in a journal project (e.g. Panorama Public) are the only ones that can have symlink targets.
         // Folders in other projects can contain symlinks but no symlink targets.
         Container project = container.getProject();