diff --git a/engine/src/bullet-common/com/jme3/bullet/control/BetterCharacterControl.java b/engine/src/bullet-common/com/jme3/bullet/control/BetterCharacterControl.java
index e6abf187d..a85a91497 100644
--- a/engine/src/bullet-common/com/jme3/bullet/control/BetterCharacterControl.java
+++ b/engine/src/bullet-common/com/jme3/bullet/control/BetterCharacterControl.java
@@ -384,6 +384,9 @@ public class BetterCharacterControl extends AbstractPhysicsControl implements Ph
      * gravity vector!
      */
     public void resetForward(Vector3f vec) {
+        if (vec == null) {
+            vec = Vector3f.UNIT_Z;
+        }
         localForward.set(vec);
         updateLocalCoordinateSystem();
     }