diff --git a/workflow/engine/methods/cases/open.php b/workflow/engine/methods/cases/open.php
index 88c924137..a08b34860 100755
--- a/workflow/engine/methods/cases/open.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/methods/cases/open.php
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
   $oHeadPublisher->assign('_APP_NUM', '#: ' . $case['APP_NUMBER']);
   $oHeadPublisher->assign('_ENV_CURRENT_DATE', $conf->getSystemDate(date('Y-m-d')));
   $oHeadPublisher->assign('_ENV_CURRENT_DATE_NO_FORMAT', date('Y-m-d'));
-  $oHeadPublisher->assign('idfirstform', $oStep->getStepUidObj());
+  $oHeadPublisher->assign('idfirstform', is_null($oStep)?'':$oStep->getStepUidObj());
 
 
   G::RenderPage('publish', 'extJs');