diff --git a/src/authm/AuthManager.cc b/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
index 348782c68a..6201ba33e2 100644
--- a/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
+++ b/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ void AuthManager::notify_request(int auth_id,bool result,const string& message)
 void AuthManager::load_mads(int uid)
 {
     ostringstream                   oss;
-    const VectorAttribute *         vattr;
+    const VectorAttribute *         vattr = 0;
     int                             rc;
     string                          name;
     AuthManagerDriver *             authm_driver = 0;
@@ -438,7 +438,10 @@ void AuthManager::load_mads(int uid)
 
     NebulaLog::log("AuM",Log::INFO,oss);
 
-    vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    if ( mad_conf.size() > 0 )
+    {
+        vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    }
 
     if ( vattr == 0 )
     {
diff --git a/src/hm/HookManager.cc b/src/hm/HookManager.cc
index 8555d1c4ad..f49a21ea92 100644
--- a/src/hm/HookManager.cc
+++ b/src/hm/HookManager.cc
@@ -49,12 +49,15 @@ void HookManager::load_mads(int uid)
 {
     HookManagerDriver *     hm_mad;
     ostringstream           oss;
-    const VectorAttribute * vattr;
+    const VectorAttribute * vattr = 0;
     int                     rc;
 
     NebulaLog::log("HKM",Log::INFO,"Loading Hook Manager driver.");
 
-    vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    if ( mad_conf.size() > 0 )
+    {
+        vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    }
 
     if ( vattr == 0 )
     {
diff --git a/src/image/ImageManager.cc b/src/image/ImageManager.cc
index e0fc6789ff..52c3ab9df8 100644
--- a/src/image/ImageManager.cc
+++ b/src/image/ImageManager.cc
@@ -50,12 +50,15 @@ void ImageManager::load_mads(int uid)
 {
     ImageManagerDriver *    imagem_mad;
     ostringstream           oss;
-    const VectorAttribute * vattr;
+    const VectorAttribute * vattr = 0;
     int                     rc;
 
     NebulaLog::log("ImM",Log::INFO,"Loading Image Manager driver.");
 
-    vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    if ( mad_conf.size() > 0 )
+    {
+        vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    }
 
     if ( vattr == 0 )
     {
diff --git a/src/tm/TransferManager.cc b/src/tm/TransferManager.cc
index d3d1212d84..13af39a96b 100644
--- a/src/tm/TransferManager.cc
+++ b/src/tm/TransferManager.cc
@@ -1288,14 +1288,17 @@ void TransferManager::load_mads(int uid)
     int    rc;
     string name;
 
-    const VectorAttribute * vattr;
+    const VectorAttribute * vattr = 0;
     TransferManagerDriver * tm_driver = 0;
 
     oss << "Loading Transfer Manager driver.";
 
     NebulaLog::log("TM",Log::INFO,oss);
 
-    vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    if ( mad_conf.size() > 0 )
+    {
+        vattr = static_cast<const VectorAttribute *>(mad_conf[0]);
+    }
 
     if ( vattr == 0 )
     {