--- /RFC1522Codec.java	2023-07-05 02:19:47.126120326 +0200
+++ /Codec-1/src/java/org/apache/commons/codec/net/RFC1522Codec.java	2023-07-05 02:19:47.130120326 +0200
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
      throws DecoderException, UnsupportedEncodingException  
     {
         if (text == null) {
-            return null;
+return this;
         }
         if ((!text.startsWith("=?")) || (!text.endsWith("?="))) {
             throw new DecoderException("RFC 1522 violation: malformed encoded content");
