diff --git a/code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/nel_mesh_lib/export_skinning.cpp b/code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/nel_mesh_lib/export_skinning.cpp
index c1809508f..57f742972 100644
--- a/code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/nel_mesh_lib/export_skinning.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/nel_mesh_lib/export_skinning.cpp
@@ -748,15 +748,20 @@ uint CExportNel::buildSkinning (CMesh::CMeshBuild& buildMesh, const TInodePtrInt
 							{
 								if (blendedInterface)
 								{
-									// Get the bone weight
-									float weight=blendedInterface->GetWeight(bone);
-
 									// Get node
 									INode *node=blendedInterface->GetNode(bone);
-									nlassert (node);
-
-									// Insert in the map
-									weightMap.insert (std::map<float, INode*>::value_type (weight, node));
+									if (node == NULL)
+									{
+										nlwarning("node == NULL; bone = %i / %i", bone, boneCount);
+									}
+									else
+									{
+										// Get the bone weight
+										float weight=blendedInterface->GetWeight(bone);
+										
+										// Insert in the map
+										weightMap.insert (std::map<float, INode*>::value_type (weight, node));
+									}
 								}
 								else
 								{
@@ -1191,49 +1196,64 @@ void CExportNel::addSkeletonBindPos (INode& skinedNode, mapBoneBindPos& boneBind
 							for (boneIndex=0; boneIndex<count; boneIndex++)
 							{
 								// Get the bone pointer
-								INode *bone=blendedInterface->GetNode(boneIndex);
+								INode *bone = blendedInterface->GetNode(boneIndex);
 
-								// Get the bind matrix of the bone
-								Matrix3 bindPos;
-								int res=physiqueInterface->GetInitNodeTM (bone, bindPos);
-								nlassert (res==MATRIX_RETURNED);
-
-								// Add an entry inthe map
-								if (boneBindPos.insert (mapBoneBindPos::value_type (bone, bindPos)).second)
+								if (bone == NULL)
 								{
-#ifdef NL_DEBUG
-									// *** Debug info
+									nlwarning("bone == NULL; boneIndex = %i / %i", boneIndex, count);
+								}
+								else
+								{
+									// Get the bind matrix of the bone
+									Matrix3 bindPos;
+									int res = physiqueInterface->GetInitNodeTM (bone, bindPos);
 
-									// Bone name
-									std::string boneName=getName (*bone);
+									if (res != MATRIX_RETURNED)
+									{
+										nlwarning("res != MATRIX_RETURNED; res = %i; boneIndex = %i / %i", res, boneIndex, count);
+										nlwarning("bone = %i", (uint32)(void *)bone);
+										std::string boneName = getName (*bone);
+										nlwarning("boneName = %s", boneName.c_str());
+										nlassert(false);
+									}
 
-									// Local matrix
-									Matrix3 nodeTM;
-									nodeTM=bone->GetNodeTM (0);
+									// Add an entry inthe map
+									if (boneBindPos.insert (mapBoneBindPos::value_type (bone, bindPos)).second)
+									{
+	#ifdef NL_DEBUG
+										// *** Debug info
 
-									// Offset matrix
-									Matrix3 offsetScaleTM (TRUE);
-									Matrix3 offsetRotTM (TRUE);
-									Matrix3 offsetPosTM (TRUE);
-									ApplyScaling (offsetScaleTM, bone->GetObjOffsetScale ());
-									offsetRotTM.SetRotate (bone->GetObjOffsetRot ());
-									offsetPosTM.SetTrans (bone->GetObjOffsetPos ());
-									Matrix3 offsetTM = offsetScaleTM * offsetRotTM * offsetPosTM;
+										// Bone name
+										std::string boneName=getName (*bone);
 
-									// Local + offset matrix
-									Matrix3 nodeOffsetTM = offsetTM * nodeTM;
+										// Local matrix
+										Matrix3 nodeTM;
+										nodeTM=bone->GetNodeTM (0);
 
-									// Init TM
-									Matrix3 initTM;
-									int res=physiqueInterface->GetInitNodeTM (bone, initTM);
-									nlassert (res==MATRIX_RETURNED);
+										// Offset matrix
+										Matrix3 offsetScaleTM (TRUE);
+										Matrix3 offsetRotTM (TRUE);
+										Matrix3 offsetPosTM (TRUE);
+										ApplyScaling (offsetScaleTM, bone->GetObjOffsetScale ());
+										offsetRotTM.SetRotate (bone->GetObjOffsetRot ());
+										offsetPosTM.SetTrans (bone->GetObjOffsetPos ());
+										Matrix3 offsetTM = offsetScaleTM * offsetRotTM * offsetPosTM;
 
-									// invert
-									initTM.Invert();
-									Matrix3 compNode=nodeTM*initTM;
-									Matrix3 compOffsetNode=nodeOffsetTM*initTM;
-									Matrix3 compOffsetNode2=nodeOffsetTM*initTM;
+										// Local + offset matrix
+										Matrix3 nodeOffsetTM = offsetTM * nodeTM;
+
+										// Init TM
+										Matrix3 initTM;
+										int res=physiqueInterface->GetInitNodeTM (bone, initTM);
+										nlassert (res==MATRIX_RETURNED);
+
+										// invert
+										initTM.Invert();
+										Matrix3 compNode=nodeTM*initTM;
+										Matrix3 compOffsetNode=nodeOffsetTM*initTM;
+										Matrix3 compOffsetNode2=nodeOffsetTM*initTM;
 #endif // NL_DEBUG
+									}
 								}
 							}
 						}