1 files changed, 8 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/cpp/demo/Ice/value/Client.cpp b/cpp/demo/Ice/value/Client.cpp
index 8636b07b94f..246fcceb8bf 100644
--- a/cpp/demo/Ice/value/Client.cpp
+++ b/cpp/demo/Ice/value/Client.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,15 @@ int
 run(int argc, char* argv[], const Ice::CommunicatorPtr& communicator)
 {
     Ice::PropertiesPtr properties = communicator->getProperties();
-    string ref = properties->getProperty("Value.Initial");
-    Ice::ObjectPrx base = communicator->stringToProxy(ref);
+    const char* refProperty = "Value.Initial";
+    std::string ref = properties->getProperty(refProperty);
+    if (ref.empty())
+    {
+	cerr << argv[0] << ": property `" << refProperty << "' not set" << endl;
+	return EXIT_FAILURE;
+    }
 
+    Ice::ObjectPrx base = communicator->stringToProxy(ref);
     InitialPrx initial = InitialPrx::checkedCast(base);
     if (!initial)
     {