asp.net 3.5 nested master page problem

[JonAspPgh]

Hi, I have encountered an issue that must be common with Nested Master Pages. The problem I am having is when my content page uses a child master page, it calls the Master Page's Page_Load. Inside the Page_Load it is modifying a Literal that will not exist on the content page and throws an error. I understand why this happens, but my question is what is the best way to avoid this?

Site.master

        <asp:ContentPlaceHolder id="ContentPlaceHolder1" runat="server">
            <asp:Literal ID="Literal1" runat="server"></asp:Literal>
        </asp:ContentPlaceHolder>
        <asp:ContentPlaceHolder id="ContentPlaceHolder2" runat="server">
            <asp:Literal ID="Literal2" runat="server"></asp:Literal>
        </asp:ContentPlaceHolder>

Site.master.cs

public partial class Site : System.Web.UI.MasterPage
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {

        Literal1.Text = "something";   // Works fine
        Literal2.Text = "something";   // Error occurs here.  
    }
}

Child.master

        <asp:Content ID="Content2" ContentPlaceHolderID="ContentPlaceHolder2" Runat="Server">

        <!-- No Literal Control ->
        </asp:Content>