diff --git a/VERSION.txt b/VERSION.txt
index 3c686cb8a9a..d327914c1a8 100644
--- a/VERSION.txt
+++ b/VERSION.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ jetty-7.0.0.RC4-SNAPSHOT
  + 286185 Implement ability for JSON implementation to automatically register convertors
  + Added discoverable start options
  + 286535 ContentExchange status code
+ + JETTY-1079
 
 jetty-7.0.0.RC3 7 August 2009
  + 277403 remove system properties
diff --git a/jetty-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/util/resource/ResourceCollection.java b/jetty-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/util/resource/ResourceCollection.java
index 27d9bdb27c6..b1ea66cc8f5 100644
--- a/jetty-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/util/resource/ResourceCollection.java
+++ b/jetty-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/util/resource/ResourceCollection.java
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ public class ResourceCollection extends Resource
     public String toString()
     {
         if(_resources==null)
-            throw new IllegalStateException("*resources* not set.");
+            return "";
         
         StringBuilder buffer = new StringBuilder();
         for(Resource r : _resources)