Missing relateddocs:docs node causes NPE and makes document uneditable

In CMS 2.12.18 with related docs plugin 2.05.03 it was not necessary to have a relateddocs:docs node in a document.
In CMS 2.16.00 with related docs plugin 2.06.00 the editor throws an NPE on this missing node. The document cannot be closed either.

Part of the stacktrace:
29-Jul-2010 15:55:10 org.onehippo.forge.relateddocs.editor.RelatedDocsSuggestPlugin <init>
SEVERE: null
javax.jcr.PathNotFoundException: relateddocs:docs
at org.apache.jackrabbit.core.NodeImpl.getNode(NodeImpl.java:2598)
at org.hippoecm.repository.decorating.NodeDecorator.getNode(NodeDecorator.java:226)
at org.hippoecm.repository.decorating.checked.NodeDecorator.getNode(NodeDecorator.java:296)
at org.onehippo.forge.relateddocs.editor.RelatedDocsSuggestPlugin.<init>(RelatedDocsSuggestPlugin.java:83)
at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.java:39)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.java:27)
at java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance(Constructor.java:513)