diff --git a/org.eclipse.virgo.snaps.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/virgo/snaps/core/internal/webapp/SnapServletContext.java b/org.eclipse.virgo.snaps.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/virgo/snaps/core/internal/webapp/SnapServletContext.java
index 5c55e90..5d51e3c 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.virgo.snaps.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/virgo/snaps/core/internal/webapp/SnapServletContext.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.virgo.snaps.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/virgo/snaps/core/internal/webapp/SnapServletContext.java
@@ -193,12 +193,16 @@
      * @see javax.servlet.ServletContext#getResource(java.lang.String)
      */
     public URL getResource(String path) throws MalformedURLException {
-        boolean hostOnly = false;
+    	 if (path == null) {
+             throw new MalformedURLException(String.format("'%s' is not a valid resource path", path));
+         }
+    	
+    	boolean hostOnly = false;
         if (path.startsWith(HOST_PATH_PREFIX)) {
             path = path.substring(HOST_PATH_PREFIX.length());
             hostOnly = true;
         }
-        if (path == null || !path.startsWith("/")) {
+        if (!path.startsWith("/")) {
             throw new MalformedURLException(String.format("'%s' is not a valid resource path", path));
         }
         if (hostOnly) {