Index: core/src/main/java/org/apache/directory/server/core/DefaultDirectoryService.java
===================================================================
--- core/src/main/java/org/apache/directory/server/core/DefaultDirectoryService.java	(revision 442227)
+++ core/src/main/java/org/apache/directory/server/core/DefaultDirectoryService.java	(working copy)
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.configuration.Configuration;
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.configuration.ConfigurationException;
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.configuration.StartupConfiguration;
+import org.apache.directory.server.core.interceptor.Interceptor;
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.interceptor.InterceptorChain;
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.jndi.AbstractContextFactory;
 import org.apache.directory.server.core.jndi.DeadContext;
@@ -525,8 +526,12 @@
             attributes.put( "createTimestamp", DateUtils.getGeneralizedTime() );
 
             partitionNexus.add(normName, attributes );
-            AuthorizationService authzSrvc = ( AuthorizationService ) interceptorChain.get( "authorizationService" );
-            authzSrvc.cacheNewGroup( upName, normName, attributes );
+	    Interceptor authzInterceptor = interceptorChain.get( "authorizationService" );
+	    if ( (authzInterceptor != null) && (authzInterceptor instanceof AuthorizationService) )
+	    {
+		AuthorizationService authzSrvc = ( AuthorizationService ) authzInterceptor;
+		authzSrvc.cacheNewGroup( upName, normName, attributes );
+	    }
         }
 
         // -------------------------------------------------------------------