--- old/src/java.logging/share/classes/java/util/logging/FileHandler.java	2014-09-30 15:38:53.000000000 +0200
+++ new/src/java.logging/share/classes/java/util/logging/FileHandler.java	2014-09-30 15:38:53.000000000 +0200
@@ -423,6 +423,11 @@
         if (limit < 0) {
             limit = 0;
         }
+        if (pattern == null || pattern.isEmpty()) {
+            // can only happen if the default constructor was called: all
+            // other constructors will have thrown IAE.
+            throw new NullPointerException();
+        }
 
         // We register our own ErrorManager during initialization
         // so we can record exceptions.