diff --git a/src/helma/objectmodel/TransientNode.java b/src/helma/objectmodel/TransientNode.java
index 43e90e4d..5a1fe006 100644
--- a/src/helma/objectmodel/TransientNode.java
+++ b/src/helma/objectmodel/TransientNode.java
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ public class TransientNode implements INode, Serializable {
     }
 
     public String getPrototype () {
+	// if prototype is null, it's a vanilla HopObject.
+	if (prototype == null)
+	    return "hopobject";
 	return prototype;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Node.java b/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Node.java
index 50e16cda..e9289771 100644
--- a/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Node.java
+++ b/src/helma/objectmodel/db/Node.java
@@ -545,12 +545,9 @@ public final class Node implements INode, Serializable {
 
 
     public String getPrototype () {
-	/* if (prototype == null && propMap != null) {
-	    // retrieve prototype name from properties
-	    Property pp = (Property) propMap.get ("prototype");
-	    if (pp != null)
-	        prototype = pp.getStringValue ();
-	} */
+	// if prototype is null, it's a vanilla HopObject.
+	if (prototype == null)
+	    return "hopobject";
 	return prototype;
     }