diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/Utils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/Utils.java
index 8f9b6a8cd..525dbccb2 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/Utils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/Utils.java
@@ -204,9 +204,9 @@ public class Utils {
            Intents is to send a different second param each time,
            though the docs say that param's ignored.
         */
-        PendingIntent pi = 
-            PendingIntent.getActivity( context, Utils.nextRandomInt(), intent, 
-                                       PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT );
+        PendingIntent pi = null == intent ? null
+            : PendingIntent.getActivity( context, Utils.nextRandomInt(), intent, 
+                                         PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT );
 
         Notification notification = 
             new Notification( R.drawable.icon48x48, title,