--- old/src/share/vm/opto/ifnode.cpp	Thu Jan  7 18:11:27 2010
+++ new/src/share/vm/opto/ifnode.cpp	Thu Jan  7 18:11:27 2010
@@ -531,6 +531,9 @@
   if (linear_only)
     return NULL;
 
+  if( dom->is_Root() )
+    return NULL;
+
   // Else hit a Region.  Check for a loop header
   if( dom->is_Loop() )
     return dom->in(1);          // Skip up thru loops