Index: /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/autodiff.m
===================================================================
--- /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/autodiff.m	(revision 27661)
+++ /issm/trunk-jpl/src/m/classes/autodiff.m	(revision 27662)
@@ -58,9 +58,17 @@
 			for i=1:numel(self.dependents),
 				dep=self.dependents{i};
-				md=checkconsistency(dep,md,solution,analyses);
+				if isempty(dep)
+					md = checkmessage(md,['md.autodiff.dependents{' num2str(i) '} is empty!']);
+				else
+					md=checkconsistency(dep,md,solution,analyses);
+				end
 			end
 			for i=1:numel(self.independents),
 				indep=self.independents{i};
-				md=checkconsistency(indep,md,i,solution,analyses,self.driver);
+				if isempty(indep)
+					md = checkmessage(md,['md.autodiff.independents{' num2str(i) '} is empty!']);
+				else
+					md=checkconsistency(indep,md,i,solution,analyses,self.driver);
+				end
 			end