diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index be9e40ce0..1e1648d8a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2005-03-29  Alex Roitman  <shura@gramps-project.org>
+	* src/Witness.py (WitnessEditor.__init__): Work around missing
+	reference.
+
 2005-03-29  Richard Taylor <rjt-gramps@thegrindstone.me.uk>
 	* src/plugins/ScratchPad.py (on_object_select_row): fixed the drop of 
 	text into TextView widgets.
diff --git a/src/Witness.py b/src/Witness.py
index 8640bb0dd..d8f2abc4f 100644
--- a/src/Witness.py
+++ b/src/Witness.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #
 # Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program
 #
-# Copyright (C) 2003-2004  Donald N. Allingham
+# Copyright (C) 2003-2005  Donald N. Allingham
 #
 # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@
 
 # $Id$
 
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Python modules
+#
+#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+from gettext import gettext as _
+
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # GTK/Gnome modules
@@ -39,7 +46,6 @@ import Utils
 import RelLib
 import ListModel
 import NameDisplay
-from gettext import gettext as _
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -151,10 +157,14 @@ class WitnessEditor:
 
         if self.ref:
             if self.ref.get_type():
-                self.in_db.set_active(1)
                 self.idval = self.ref.get_value()
-                person = self.db.get_person_from_handle(self.idval)
-                self.name.set_text(person.get_primary_name().get_regular_name())
+                if self.db.has_person_handle(self.idval):
+                    person = self.db.get_person_from_handle(self.idval)
+                    self.name.set_text(person.get_primary_name().get_regular_name())
+                    self.in_db.set_active(1)
+                else:
+                    self.name.set_text(_("Unknown"))
+                    self.in_db.set_active(0)
             else:
                 self.name.set_text(self.ref.get_value())
                 self.in_db.set_active(0)