Index: trunk/src/rats_patch.c
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/rats_patch.c	(revision 38642)
+++ trunk/src/rats_patch.c	(revision 38643)
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@
 		case F_Object:
 			placed = pcb_subc_replace(PCB, olds, news, rnd_true, dumb);
 			if (placed != NULL) {
-				if (!dumb)
+				if (!dumb && (placed->refdes != NULL))
 					pcb_ratspatch_append_optimize(PCB, RATP_CHANGE_COMP_ATTRIB, placed->refdes, "footprint", fpname);
 				changed = 1;
 			}