@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ func UnpackLayer(dest string, layer Reader, options *TarOptions) (size int64, er

 	defer pools.BufioReader32KPool.Put(trBuf)

 	var dirs []*tar.Header

+

+	if options == nil {

+		options = &TarOptions{}

+	}

+	if options.ExcludePatterns == nil {

+		options.ExcludePatterns = []string{}

+	}

 	remappedRootUID, remappedRootGID, err := idtools.GetRootUIDGID(options.UIDMaps, options.GIDMaps)

 	if err != nil {

 		return 0, err