diff --git a/VectoCore/VectoCore/Models/SimulationComponent/Impl/CombustionEngine.cs b/VectoCore/VectoCore/Models/SimulationComponent/Impl/CombustionEngine.cs
index 15508ae4b279afb73672461b8ae5bedd750646d7..318ea49f4c81b99997f13dbfe06fee0f02680f0c 100644
--- a/VectoCore/VectoCore/Models/SimulationComponent/Impl/CombustionEngine.cs
+++ b/VectoCore/VectoCore/Models/SimulationComponent/Impl/CombustionEngine.cs
@@ -626,6 +626,9 @@ namespace TUGraz.VectoCore.Models.SimulationComponent.Impl
 					_idleStart = absTime;
 					_lastEnginePower = _engine.PreviousState.EnginePower;
 				}
+				if (_lastEnginePower == null) {
+					_lastEnginePower = _engine.PreviousState.EnginePower;
+				}
 				IResponse retVal;
 
 				var idleTime = absTime - _idleStart + dt;