diff --git a/LoveSeat/CouchDatabase.cs b/LoveSeat/CouchDatabase.cs
index feca4b7..fe55482 100644
--- a/LoveSeat/CouchDatabase.cs
+++ b/LoveSeat/CouchDatabase.cs
@@ -363,7 +363,12 @@ public void SetDefaultDesignDoc(string designDoc)
                 throw new CouchException(req.GetRequest(), resp, resp.GetResponseString() + "\n" + req.GetRequest().RequestUri);
             }
 
-            bool includeDocs = options.IncludeDocs ?? false;
+            bool includeDocs = false;
+            if (options != null)
+            {
+                includeDocs = options.IncludeDocs ?? false;
+            }
+
             return new ViewResult<T>(resp, req.GetRequest(), ObjectSerializer, includeDocs);
         }
         /// <summary>