Index: io/keycontrol.cpp
===================================================================
--- io/keycontrol.cpp	(revision 9490)
+++ io/keycontrol.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -884,11 +884,15 @@
 			// launch asteroid
 			object *asteroid_create(asteroid_field *asfieldp, int asteroid_type, int subtype);
 			object *objp = asteroid_create(&Asteroid_field, 0, 0);
+			if(objp == NULL) {
+				break;
+			}			
 			vec3d vel;
 			vm_vec_copy_scale(&vel, &Player_obj->orient.vec.fvec, 50.0f);
 			objp->phys_info.vel = vel;
 			objp->phys_info.desired_vel = vel;
 			objp->pos = Player_obj->pos;
+			HUD_sourced_printf(HUD_SOURCE_HIDDEN, XSTR( "Asteroid launched", 18));
 			break;
 		}