--- a/Object.st	Wed Nov 22 16:08:54 1995 +0100
+++ b/Object.st	Wed Nov 22 16:25:41 1995 +0100
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 !
 
 version
-    ^ '$Header: /cvs/stx/stx/libbasic/Object.st,v 1.71 1995-11-21 12:47:44 cg Exp $'
+    ^ '$Header: /cvs/stx/stx/libbasic/Object.st,v 1.72 1995-11-22 15:25:41 cg Exp $'
 !
 
 documentation
@@ -1815,18 +1815,21 @@
 
     |sel errorString cls sender|
 
+    "/ handle the case of an error during early startup
+    "/ (output streams not yet initialized)
+    "/
+    Stdout isNil ifTrue:[
+	Smalltalk fatalAbort:'error during init phase'.
+    ].
+
     (sel := aMessage selector) isNil ifTrue:[
 	"happens when things go mad, or a method has been
 	 called by valueWithReceiver: with a wrong receiver"
 
 	sel := '(nil)'
     ].
-"/    Smalltalk isInitialized ifFalse:[
-"/      sel printNL
-"/    ].
 
     "the new errorString gives more information ..."
-"/    errorString := 'Message not understood: ' , sel.
     sender := thisContext sender.
     cls := sender searchClass.
     cls isNil ifTrue:[