--- loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2004/03/12 21:06:19	1.71
+++ loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2004/03/13 00:36:11	1.72
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA 
 # used by lonxml::xmlparse() as input variable $safeinit to Apache::run::run()
 #
-# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.71 2004/03/12 21:06:19 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.72 2004/03/13 00:36:11 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ sub caparesponse_check {
   #type's definitons come from capaParser.h
   my $message='';
   #remove leading and trailing whitespace
+  if (!defined($response)) {
+      $response='';
+  }
   if ($response=~ /^\s|\s$/) {
     $response=~ s:^\s+|\s+$::g;
     $message .="Removed ws now :$response:\n";