diff --git a/Mage.Sets/src/mage/sets/zendikar/VampireHexmage.java b/Mage.Sets/src/mage/sets/zendikar/VampireHexmage.java
index 9c095e8241..4deacbe087 100644
--- a/Mage.Sets/src/mage/sets/zendikar/VampireHexmage.java
+++ b/Mage.Sets/src/mage/sets/zendikar/VampireHexmage.java
@@ -94,17 +94,21 @@ class VampireHexmageEffect extends OneShotEffect<VampireHexmageEffect> {
 
 		Permanent permanent = game.getPermanent(target.getFirstTarget());
 
-		String[ ] counterNames = permanent.getCounters().keySet().toArray(new String[0]);
+                if ( permanent != null ) {
+                    String[ ] counterNames = permanent.getCounters().keySet().toArray(new String[0]);
 
-		if ( permanent.getLoyalty() != null ) {
-			permanent.getLoyalty().setValue(0);
-		}
+                    if ( permanent.getLoyalty() != null ) {
+                            permanent.getLoyalty().setValue(0);
+                    }
 
-		for ( String counterName : counterNames ) {
-			permanent.getCounters().remove(counterName);
-		}
+                    for ( String counterName : counterNames ) {
+                            permanent.getCounters().remove(counterName);
+                    }
+                    
+                    return true;
+                }
 
-		return true;
+		return false;
 	}
 
 }