diff --git a/src/gui/input.C b/src/gui/input.C
index 307348c..e4fb8e0 100644
--- a/src/gui/input.C
+++ b/src/gui/input.C
@@ -195,9 +195,14 @@ canvas_input_callback ( O_Canvas *widget, Canvas *c, int m )
                             break;
                         case 'c':
                         {
-                            c->grid( c->grid()->create() );
+                            Grid *g = c->grid()->create();
 
-                            ui->update_sequence_widgets();
+                            if ( g )
+                            {
+                                c->grid( g );
+                                
+                                ui->update_sequence_widgets();
+                            }
 
                             break;
                         }
diff --git a/src/pattern.C b/src/pattern.C
index a4e88ce..e25c041 100644
--- a/src/pattern.C
+++ b/src/pattern.C
@@ -261,7 +261,12 @@ pattern::recording ( void )
 pattern *
 pattern::create ( void )
 {
-    return new pattern;
+    if ( pattern::patterns() < 128 )
+    {
+        return new pattern;
+    }
+    else
+        return NULL;
 }
 
 pattern *
diff --git a/src/phrase.C b/src/phrase.C
index a38811a..964828f 100644
--- a/src/phrase.C
+++ b/src/phrase.C
@@ -109,7 +109,12 @@ phrase::reset ( void )
 phrase *
 phrase::create ( void )
 {
-    return new phrase;
+    if ( phrase::phrases() < 128 )
+    {
+        return new phrase;
+    }
+    else
+        return NULL;
 }
 
 phrase *