diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher2/Launcher.java b/src/com/android/launcher2/Launcher.java
index 13a39a3..6bd915a 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher2/Launcher.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher2/Launcher.java
@@ -2093,7 +2093,11 @@
      * Implementation of the method from LauncherModel.Callbacks.
      */
     public int getCurrentWorkspaceScreen() {
-        return mWorkspace.getCurrentScreen();
+        if (mWorkspace != null) {
+            return mWorkspace.getCurrentScreen();
+        } else {
+            return SCREEN_COUNT / 2;
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher2/LauncherModel.java b/src/com/android/launcher2/LauncherModel.java
index 17cd151..17f7573 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher2/LauncherModel.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher2/LauncherModel.java
@@ -304,13 +304,13 @@
         ArrayList<ApplicationInfo> removed = null;
         ArrayList<ApplicationInfo> modified = null;
 
-        synchronized (mAllAppsListLock) {
-            if (mBeforeFirstLoad) {
-                // If we haven't even loaded yet, don't bother, since we'll just pick
-                // up the changes.
-                return;
-            }
+        if (mBeforeFirstLoad) {
+            // If we haven't even loaded yet, don't bother, since we'll just pick
+            // up the changes.
+            return;
+        }
 
+        synchronized (mAllAppsListLock) {
             final String action = intent.getAction();
 
             if (Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_CHANGED.equals(action)