Dropdownlist handler throws error

Question

I have this handler for my dropdownlist:
protected function selectQuality_changeHandler(event:IndexChangeEvent):void {                   
    currentQualityLevel = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@name;
    counterCostSF = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@price;}
As soon as the state that includes this menu is activated, I get the error [code]TypeError: Error #1010: A term is undefined and has no properties.
However, if I continue past the error the app works fine, and people without the debugging plugin get no error.
That menu is populated with xml, and which node is chosen by a menu to the left of it.  I guess it is possible that the data is not ready, but that makes sense to me if the menu is chosen; not just on state load.
Since I don't actually "need" this information until the user uses the menu (there are default values),how can I prevent the error?
Here is the code that controls that menu:
private function getCountertops_resultHandler(event:ResultEvent):void {
     countertopData = event.result.type;}
protected function selectMaterial_changeHandler(event:IndexChangeEvent):void {
     var sel:int = event.currentTarget.selectedIndex;
     currentMaterial = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.name;
     updateCountertopCard(sel);
protected function selectQuality_changeHandler(event:IndexChangeEvent):void {                        
    currentQualityLevel = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@name;
    counterCostSF = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@price;
private function updateCountertopCard(i:int):void {
      var node:XML = countertopData[i];
      if (!node) return;
      matTitle.text = countertopData[i].title;
      matCaption.text = countertopData[i].caption;
      matBullets.text = countertopData[i].bullets;
      image1.imageSource = "images/"+countertopData[i]..swatches.swatch[0];
      selectQuality.dataProvider = new XMLListCollection(countertopData[i].cost.level);
      selectQuality.selectedIndex = 0;
      profileList.dataProvider = new XMLListCollection(countertopData[i].profiles.profile);

Answer 1

@Handycam,
You should always try and verify that the event.currentTarget.selectedItem property is not null before trying to access any of it's properties.
Either try this:
if (event.currentTarget.selectedItem) {
    currentQualityLevel = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@name;
    counterCostSF = event.currentTarget.selectedItem.@price;}
Or you could try wrapping the code in a try/catch block.
Peter