diff --git a/core/keyboard_nav/ast_node.js b/core/keyboard_nav/ast_node.js
index e7d61750c..f1102143e 100644
--- a/core/keyboard_nav/ast_node.js
+++ b/core/keyboard_nav/ast_node.js
@@ -145,10 +145,10 @@ Blockly.ASTNode.createFieldNode = function(field) {
  * @return {Blockly.ASTNode} An AST node pointing to a connection.
  */
 Blockly.ASTNode.createConnectionNode = function(connection) {
-  var type = connection.type;
   if (!connection) {
     return null;
   }
+  var type = connection.type;
   if (type == Blockly.connectionTypes.INPUT_VALUE) {
     return Blockly.ASTNode.createInputNode(connection.getParentInput());
   } else if (type == Blockly.connectionTypes.NEXT_STATEMENT &&