diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupport.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupport.java
index ca1351f6..5966e56d 100755
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupport.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupport.java
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public class ResourceSupport implements Identifiable<Link> {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (!obj.getClass().equals(this.getClass())) {
+		if (obj == null || !obj.getClass().equals(this.getClass())) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupportUnitTest.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupportUnitTest.java
index 9ce31d99..3b07a8ff 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupportUnitTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/hateoas/ResourceSupportUnitTest.java
@@ -133,4 +133,14 @@ public class ResourceSupportUnitTest {
 
 		TestUtils.assertNotEqualAndDifferentHashCode(left, right);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * @see #178
+	 */
+	@Test
+	public void doesNotEqualNull() {
+
+		ResourceSupport support = new ResourceSupport();
+		assertThat(support.equals(null), is(false));
+	}
 }