diff --git a/src/main/java/net/minecraft/server/NetServerHandler.java b/src/main/java/net/minecraft/server/NetServerHandler.java
index 65c116504c..d07b114617 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/minecraft/server/NetServerHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/minecraft/server/NetServerHandler.java
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ public class NetServerHandler extends NetHandler implements ICommandListener {
                 this.networkManager.queue(new Packet3Chat(line));
             }
             packet = null;
-        } else if (packet.lowPriority == true) {
+        } else if (packet != null && packet.lowPriority == true) {
             // Reroute all low-priority packets through to compression thread.
             ChunkCompressionThread.sendPacket(this.player, packet);
             packet = null;