diff --git a/layout.go b/layout.go
index 12792b0..25dbc4f 100644
--- a/layout.go
+++ b/layout.go
@@ -37,38 +37,63 @@ func NewLayout(variant string) *Layout {
 	}
 }
 
+func (l *Layout) slotsForSlot(slot byte) []Node {
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if l.slots == nil {
+		l.slots = make(map[byte][]Node)
+	}
+	return l.slots[slot]
+}
+
 // H appends nodes to the Header slot.
 // Usage example: NewLayout("HCF").H(Text("title"))
 func (l *Layout) H(nodes ...Node) *Layout {
-	l.slots['H'] = append(l.slots['H'], nodes...)
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	l.slots['H'] = append(l.slotsForSlot('H'), nodes...)
 	return l
 }
 
 // L appends nodes to the Left aside slot.
 // Usage example: NewLayout("LC").L(Text("nav"))
 func (l *Layout) L(nodes ...Node) *Layout {
-	l.slots['L'] = append(l.slots['L'], nodes...)
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	l.slots['L'] = append(l.slotsForSlot('L'), nodes...)
 	return l
 }
 
 // C appends nodes to the Content (main) slot.
 // Usage example: NewLayout("C").C(Text("body"))
 func (l *Layout) C(nodes ...Node) *Layout {
-	l.slots['C'] = append(l.slots['C'], nodes...)
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	l.slots['C'] = append(l.slotsForSlot('C'), nodes...)
 	return l
 }
 
 // R appends nodes to the Right aside slot.
 // Usage example: NewLayout("CR").R(Text("ads"))
 func (l *Layout) R(nodes ...Node) *Layout {
-	l.slots['R'] = append(l.slots['R'], nodes...)
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	l.slots['R'] = append(l.slotsForSlot('R'), nodes...)
 	return l
 }
 
 // F appends nodes to the Footer slot.
 // Usage example: NewLayout("CF").F(Text("footer"))
 func (l *Layout) F(nodes ...Node) *Layout {
-	l.slots['F'] = append(l.slots['F'], nodes...)
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	l.slots['F'] = append(l.slotsForSlot('F'), nodes...)
 	return l
 }
 
diff --git a/layout_test.go b/layout_test.go
index c492d4c..e43c9e8 100644
--- a/layout_test.go
+++ b/layout_test.go
@@ -113,3 +113,27 @@ func TestLayout_IgnoresInvalidSlots_Good(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("C variant should ignore R slot content, got:\n%s", got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestLayout_Methods_NilLayout_Ugly(t *testing.T) {
+	var layout *Layout
+
+	if layout.H(Raw("h")) != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil layout from H on nil receiver")
+	}
+	if layout.L(Raw("l")) != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil layout from L on nil receiver")
+	}
+	if layout.C(Raw("c")) != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil layout from C on nil receiver")
+	}
+	if layout.R(Raw("r")) != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil layout from R on nil receiver")
+	}
+	if layout.F(Raw("f")) != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil layout from F on nil receiver")
+	}
+
+	if got := layout.Render(NewContext()); got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("nil layout render should be empty, got %q", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/responsive.go b/responsive.go
index b6fca16..b892e8d 100644
--- a/responsive.go
+++ b/responsive.go
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ func NewResponsive() *Responsive {
 // Usage example: NewResponsive().Variant("desktop", NewLayout("HLCRF"))
 // Variants render in insertion order.
 func (r *Responsive) Variant(name string, layout *Layout) *Responsive {
+	if r == nil {
+		r = NewResponsive()
+	}
 	r.variants = append(r.variants, responsiveVariant{name: name, layout: layout})
 	return r
 }
diff --git a/responsive_test.go b/responsive_test.go
index 62f3255..0d9aa41 100644
--- a/responsive_test.go
+++ b/responsive_test.go
@@ -86,3 +86,16 @@ func TestResponsive_VariantsIndependent_Good(t *testing.T) {
 func TestResponsive_ImplementsNode_Ugly(t *testing.T) {
 	var _ Node = NewResponsive()
 }
+
+func TestResponsive_Variant_NilResponsive_Ugly(t *testing.T) {
+	var r *Responsive
+
+	got := r.Variant("mobile", NewLayout("C").C(Raw("content")))
+	if got == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected non-nil responsive from Variant on nil receiver")
+	}
+
+	if output := got.Render(NewContext()); output != `<div data-variant="mobile"><main data-block="C-0">content</main></div>` {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected output from nil receiver Variant path: %q", output)
+	}
+}