diff --git a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockNode.java b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockNode.java
index 047b2dc..314e641 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockNode.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockNode.java
@@ -185,8 +185,7 @@ private static FXMLLoader loadNode(String FXMLPath) {
         FXMLLoader loader = new FXMLLoader();
         try {
             loader.load(DockNode.class.getResourceAsStream(FXMLPath));
-        }
-        catch (Exception e) {
+        } catch (Exception e) {
             e.printStackTrace();
             loader.setRoot(new StackPane(new Label("Could not load FXML file")));
         }
@@ -260,8 +259,10 @@ public void setDockTitleBar(DockNodeTitleBar dockTitleBar) {
     }
 
     public void showTitleBar(boolean show) {
-        dockTitleBar.setVisible(show);
-        dockTitleBar.setManaged(show);
+        if (null != dockTitleBar) {
+            dockTitleBar.setVisible(show);
+            dockTitleBar.setManaged(show);
+        }
     }
 
     public Stage getStage() {
@@ -650,7 +651,7 @@ protected void setDockPane(DockPane newDockPane) {
         if (null != dockPane) {
             dockPane.closedProperty().removeListener(dockPaneCloseListener);
         }
-        
+
         this.dockPane = newDockPane;
 
         if (null != newDockPane) {
@@ -672,7 +673,7 @@ private final void dockImpl(DockPane newDockPane) {
      */
     public DockPane undock() {
         DockPane oldDockPane = null;
-        
+
         if (dockPane != null) {
             oldDockPane = dockPane;
             dockPane.undock(this);
@@ -680,7 +681,7 @@ public DockPane undock() {
         }
         //this.dockedProperty.set(false);
         this.tabbedProperty.set(false);
-        
+
         return oldDockPane;
     }
 
@@ -707,6 +708,7 @@ public void focus() {
     }
 
     private final DockPaneCloseListener dockPaneCloseListener = new DockPaneCloseListener();
+
     private final class DockPaneCloseListener implements ChangeListener<Boolean> {
         @Override
         public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Boolean> observable, Boolean oldValue, Boolean newValue) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockPane.java b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockPane.java
index f70ce0b..dfae61a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockPane.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/DockPane.java
@@ -1119,7 +1119,9 @@ public void handle(DockEvent event) {
         if (event.getEventType() == DockEvent.DOCK_RELEASED && event.getContents() != null) {
             if (dockPosDrag != null && dockIndicatorOverlay.isShowing()) {
                 DockNode dockNode = ((DockPane) event.getContents()).getOnlyChild();
-                dockNode.dock(this, dockPosDrag, dockAreaDrag);
+                if (null != dockNode) {
+                    dockNode.dock(this, dockPosDrag, dockAreaDrag);
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -1137,7 +1139,7 @@ public void handle(DockEvent event) {
     public void storeLayout(String filePath) {
         storeLayout(filePath, generateLayout());
     }
-    
+
     public Map<String, ContentHolder> generateLayout() {
         HashMap<String, ContentHolder> contents = new HashMap<>();
 
@@ -1170,17 +1172,16 @@ public Map<String, ContentHolder> generateLayout() {
         if (null != this.root) {
             contents.put("_DockedNodes", checkPane(this.root));
         }
-        
+
         return contents;
     }
 
-    public void storeLayout(String fileName, Map<String, ContentHolder> contents) {
+    public static void storeLayout(String fileName, Map<String, ContentHolder> contents) {
         try (XMLEncoder e = new XMLEncoder(
                 new BufferedOutputStream(
                         new FileOutputStream(fileName)))) {
             e.writeObject(contents);
-        }
-        catch (FileNotFoundException e1) {
+        } catch (FileNotFoundException e1) {
             e1.printStackTrace();
         }
     }
@@ -1251,15 +1252,14 @@ public void applyLayout(Map<String, ContentHolder> contents, DelayOpenHandler de
         }
     }
 
-    public HashMap<String, ContentHolder> loadLayout(String filePath) throws FileNotFoundException {
+    public static HashMap<String, ContentHolder> loadLayout(String filePath) throws FileNotFoundException {
         return loadLayout(new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(filePath)));
     }
-    
-    public HashMap<String, ContentHolder> loadLayout(InputStream is) {
+
+    public static HashMap<String, ContentHolder> loadLayout(InputStream is) {
         try (XMLDecoder e = new XMLDecoder(is)) {
             return (HashMap<String, ContentHolder>) e.readObject();
-        }
-        catch (ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException ex) {
+        } catch (ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException ex) {
             // empty file
         }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/demo/DockFX.java b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/demo/DockFX.java
index d419455..0aa28b6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/dockfx/demo/DockFX.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/dockfx/demo/DockFX.java
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
         tabsDock.dock(dockPane, DockPos.TOP);
         DockNode tableDock = new DockNode(tableView);
         // let's disable our table from being undocked
-        tableDock.setDockTitleBar(null);
+        //tableDock.setDockTitleBar(null);
         tableDock.setPrefSize(300, 100);
         tableDock.dock(dockPane, DockPos.BOTTOM);