*** old/src/share/vm/runtime/perfData.cpp	Mon Sep 17 16:14:06 2012
--- new/src/share/vm/runtime/perfData.cpp	Mon Sep 17 16:14:04 2012

*** 586,595 ****
--- 586,599 ----
    return strcmp((const char*)name, pd->name()) == 0;
  }
  
  PerfData* PerfDataList::find_by_name(const char* name) {
  
+   // if add_item hasn't been called the list won't be initialized
+   if (this == NULL)
+     return NULL;
+ 
    int i = _set->find((void*)name, PerfDataList::by_name);
  
    if (i >= 0 && i <= _set->length())
      return _set->at(i);
    else