Index: src/main/java/org/apache/xmlgraphics/java2d/AbstractGraphics2D.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/xmlgraphics/java2d/AbstractGraphics2D.java	(revision 1738934)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/xmlgraphics/java2d/AbstractGraphics2D.java	(working copy)
@@ -904,7 +904,9 @@
                              AffineTransform xform,
                              ImageObserver obs) {
         boolean retVal = true;
-
+        if (xform == null) {
+            xform = new AffineTransform();
+        }
         if (xform.getDeterminant() != 0) {
             AffineTransform inverseTransform = null;
             try {