diff --git a/contrib/static/nntpchan.js b/contrib/static/nntpchan.js
index d314479..69e1a18 100644
--- a/contrib/static/nntpchan.js
+++ b/contrib/static/nntpchan.js
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 
 
 // insert a backlink for a post given its short hash
-function nntpchan_backlink(shorthash) {
+function nntpchan_backlink(shorthash)
+{
   var elem = document.getElementById("postform_message");
-  elem.value += ">>" + shorthash + "\n";
-
+  if ( elem )
+  {
+    elem.value += ">>" + shorthash + "\n";
+  }
 }