diff --git a/components/formats-gpl/src/loci/formats/in/CV7000Reader.java b/components/formats-gpl/src/loci/formats/in/CV7000Reader.java
index 7ba74411d73..66b745a1c9e 100644
--- a/components/formats-gpl/src/loci/formats/in/CV7000Reader.java
+++ b/components/formats-gpl/src/loci/formats/in/CV7000Reader.java
@@ -223,7 +223,11 @@ public void close(boolean fileOnly) throws IOException {
       reversePlaneLookup = null;
       extraFiles = null;
       acquiredWells.clear();
-      allFiles.clear();
+      if (allFiles != null) {
+          allFiles.clear();
+      } else {
+          allFiles = new ArrayList<String>();
+      }
     }
   }