diff --git a/src/com/opera/core/systems/OperaDriver.java b/src/com/opera/core/systems/OperaDriver.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/src/com/opera/core/systems/OperaDriver.java
+++ b/src/com/opera/core/systems/OperaDriver.java
@@ -123,7 +123,9 @@ public class OperaDriver extends RemoteWebDriver implements TakesScreenshot {
   public OperaDriver(DesiredCapabilities c) {
     capabilities = getDefaultCapabilities();
 
-    capabilities.merge(c);
+    if (c != null) {
+      capabilities.merge(c);
+    }
 
     if ((Boolean) capabilities.getCapability(AUTOSTART)) {
       OperaPaths paths = new OperaPaths();
Accept null DesiredCapabilities object