diff -r 9443da4a7fb7 -r ab30d289a86c src/net/java/otr4j/OtrKeyManagerImpl.java
--- a/src/net/java/otr4j/OtrKeyManagerImpl.java	Fri Apr 15 23:58:06 2011 +0200
+++ b/src/net/java/otr4j/OtrKeyManagerImpl.java	Sat Apr 16 19:43:53 2011 +0200
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@
 
 		public byte[] getPropertyBytes(String id) {
 			String value = properties.getProperty(id);
+			if (value == null)
+			    return null;
 			return Base64.decode(value);
 		}