      */
     protected function computeMatrix():Matrix
     {
-        if (!displayObject)
-            return null;
-                
-        if(layoutFeatures == null)
+        if (layoutFeatures == null)
             return null;
 
         var m:Matrix = layoutFeatures.layoutMatrix;

    public function setLayoutMatrix3D(value:Matrix3D):void
    {
        allocateLayoutFeatures();
        layoutFeatures.layoutMatrix3D = value;
        invalidateTransform(false /*changeInvalidatesLayering*/,
                            false /*triggerLayout*/);
    }


    public function setLayoutMatrix(value:Matrix):void
    {
        allocateLayoutFeatures();
        var previous:Boolean = needsDisplayObject;
        layoutFeatures.layoutMatrix = value;
        invalidateTransform(previous != needsDisplayObject,
                            false /*triggerLayout*/);
    }

