diff --git a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/packet/Packet.java b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/packet/Packet.java
index d6ca9a42d..39d00125b 100644
--- a/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/packet/Packet.java
+++ b/source/org/jivesoftware/smack/packet/Packet.java
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public abstract class Packet {
     private final List<PacketExtension> packetExtensions
             = new CopyOnWriteArrayList<PacketExtension>();
 
-    private final Map<String,Object> properties = null;
+    private final Map<String,Object> properties = new HashMap<String, Object>();
     private XMPPError error = null;
 
     /**