sqlcblle - pointer error on select into?

I have a simple cobol sql pgm.

I have the following pieces...

WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-MESSAGE PIC X(50).

LINKAGE SECTION.
01 INCOMING-VALUE1 PIC X(5).
01 OUTGOING-VALUE1 PIC X(50).

**************************************************************
PROCEDURE DIVISION USING INCOMING-VALUE1, OUTGOING-VALUE1.
**************************************************************
main-proc.
exec sql
select 'Row count from CBL00000M_PGM1 SQL: ' concat
char(count(*))
into :ws-message
from xxx.zzz
end-exec.
move ws-message to outgoing-value1.
EXIT PROGRAM.

I am getting a pointer error when it tries to exec the sql under main-proc.

Why is that?

tia

jay