diff --git a/tools/deletenote.py b/tools/deletenote.py
index 9d1fc19..3fb03d8 100755
--- a/tools/deletenote.py
+++ b/tools/deletenote.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Deleter( object ):
     startup_notes = []
 
     for note in main_notebook.notes:
-      if note.title == "contact us": # FIXME: make the note title to delete not hard-coded
+      if note and note.title == "contact us": # FIXME: make the note title to delete not hard-coded
         print "deleting note %s: %s" % ( note.object_id, note.title )
         main_notebook.remove_note( note )