diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index c5a91a67..fd5da0c3 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+ - return valid reference in get_config_vars() when given var is
+   non-existant (Thomas Schulz, boots)
  - plugin html_image: fix incorrect secure_dir error when
    file doesn't exist (monte)
  - plugin html_image: add path_prefix param (monte)
@@ -334,7 +336,7 @@ Version 2.5.0-RC2 (March 26, 2003)
       the "checked" value of html_radios (Monte)
     - fixed errormessage in _compile_smarty_ref() (messju)
     - updated docs for html_image "name" -> "file" (messju)
-    - fixed bug with html_options-optgroups (Nichlas Löfdahl, messju)
+    - fixed bug with html_options-optgroups (Nichlas Lfdahl, messju)
     - cleaned up calls to readdir() (messju)
     - fixed bug with passing multiple modifiers to a parameter
       (Monte)
@@ -398,7 +400,7 @@ Version 2.5.0-RC1 (March 5, 2003)
     - fix cache groups with compile_id set (Monte)
     - add support for merging appended vars (messju, Monte)
     - allow null as function attribute value
-      (André Rabold, Monte)
+      (Andr?abold, Monte)
     - support $foo->bar[index] syntax (Monte)
     - add get_registered_object function (messju, Monte)
     - treat unrecognized param attribute syntax as string (Monte)
@@ -930,4 +932,4 @@ Version 1.0
 ------------
     - initial release
 
-/* vim: set et tw=64 ft=changelog: */
+/* vim: set et tw=64 ft=changelog: */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libs/Smarty.class.php b/libs/Smarty.class.php
index ffe02368..256fc545 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty.class.php
@@ -1077,6 +1077,10 @@ class Smarty
             return $this->_config[0]['vars'];
         } else if(isset($this->_config[0]['vars'][$name])) {
             return $this->_config[0]['vars'][$name];
+        } else {
+            // var non-existant, return valid reference
+            $_tmp = null;
+            return $_tmp;
         }
     }