src/main/java/handiebot/HandieBot.java

@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ public class HandieBot {
 
         if (args.length >= 1) {
             if (args[0].equalsIgnoreCase("-nogui")){
+                System.out.println("Starting with no GUI.");
                 USE_GUI = false;
+                log = new BotLog(null);
             }
         }
 

src/main/java/handiebot/view/BotLog.java

@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ public class BotLog {
 
     public BotLog(JTextPane outputArea){
         this.outputArea = outputArea;
-        initStyles();
+        if (outputArea != null) {
+            initStyles();
+        }
     }
 
     /**