diff --git a/app/display/representation-javafx/src/main/java/org/csstudio/display/builder/representation/javafx/widgets/RegionBaseRepresentation.java b/app/display/representation-javafx/src/main/java/org/csstudio/display/builder/representation/javafx/widgets/RegionBaseRepresentation.java
index 89c2d675a3..1e30b51271 100644
--- a/app/display/representation-javafx/src/main/java/org/csstudio/display/builder/representation/javafx/widgets/RegionBaseRepresentation.java
+++ b/app/display/representation-javafx/src/main/java/org/csstudio/display/builder/representation/javafx/widgets/RegionBaseRepresentation.java
@@ -258,25 +258,26 @@ private void connectionOrValueChanged(final WidgetProperty<?> property, final Ob
         if (!model_widget.runtimePropConnected().getValue()) {
             severity = AlarmSeverity.UNDEFINED;
         }
-        else if (value_prop != null && alarm_sensitive_border_prop.getValue())
-        {
+        else if (value_prop != null && alarm_sensitive_border_prop.getValue()) {
             // Reflect severity of primary PV's value
-            final VType value = value_prop.getValue();
-            final Alarm alarm = Alarm.alarmOf(value);
+            final Object object = value_prop.getValue();
+            final Alarm alarm = Alarm.alarmOf(object);
 
             if (alarm.equals(Alarm.disconnected())) {
                 severity = AlarmSeverity.UNDEFINED;
+            } else if (alarm != null && alarm.getSeverity() != AlarmSeverity.NONE) {
+                // Have alarm info
+                severity = alarm.getSeverity();
+            } else if (object instanceof VType) {
+                // VType that doesn't provide alarm, always OK
+                severity = AlarmSeverity.NONE;
+            }  else if (object != null) {
+                // Not a vtype, but non-null, assume OK
+                severity = AlarmSeverity.NONE;
+            } else { // null
+                severity = AlarmSeverity.UNDEFINED;
             }
-            else {
-                if (alarm != null  &&  alarm.getSeverity() != AlarmSeverity.NONE)
-                    // Have alarm info
-                    severity = alarm.getSeverity();
-                else if (value != null)
-                    // VType that doesn't provide alarm, always OK
-                    severity = AlarmSeverity.NONE;
-                else // null
-                    severity = AlarmSeverity.UNDEFINED;
-            }
+
         }
 
         // Any change?