--- old/src/jdk.internal.vm.compiler/share/classes/org.graalvm.compiler.hotspot/src/org/graalvm/compiler/hotspot/stubs/CreateExceptionStub.java	2018-12-11 11:13:18.000000000 -0800
+++ new/src/jdk.internal.vm.compiler/share/classes/org.graalvm.compiler.hotspot/src/org/graalvm/compiler/hotspot/stubs/CreateExceptionStub.java	2018-12-11 11:13:18.000000000 -0800
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 import org.graalvm.compiler.options.OptionValues;
 import org.graalvm.compiler.replacements.nodes.CStringConstant;
 import org.graalvm.compiler.word.Word;
+import jdk.internal.vm.compiler.word.WordFactory;
 
 import jdk.vm.ci.code.Register;
 
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@
     }
 
     protected static Object createException(Register threadRegister, Class<? extends Throwable> exception) {
-        Word message = null;
+        Word message = WordFactory.zero();
         return createException(threadRegister, exception, message);
     }