diff --git a/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/ReadWriteWorkbook.java b/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/ReadWriteWorkbook.java
index f80afb95f..4080a4dc3 100644
--- a/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/ReadWriteWorkbook.java
+++ b/src/examples/src/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/examples/ReadWriteWorkbook.java
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ public class ReadWriteWorkbook
         HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook(fs);
         HSSFSheet sheet = wb.getSheetAt(0);
         HSSFRow row = sheet.getRow(2);
+        if (row == null)
+            row = sheet.createRow(2);
         HSSFCell cell = row.getCell((short)3);
         if (cell == null)
             cell = row.createCell((short)3);