diff --git a/core/java/android/webkit/WebView.java b/core/java/android/webkit/WebView.java
index c62894c743cf3..127eae22cc2b4 100644
--- a/core/java/android/webkit/WebView.java
+++ b/core/java/android/webkit/WebView.java
@@ -1941,7 +1941,7 @@ public class WebView extends AbsoluteLayout
     public void clearView() {
         mContentWidth = 0;
         mContentHeight = 0;
-        nativeSetBaseLayer(0);
+        if (mNativeClass != 0) nativeSetBaseLayer(0);
         mWebViewCore.sendMessage(EventHub.CLEAR_CONTENT);
     }