diff --git a/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/entity/Entity.java.patch b/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/entity/Entity.java.patch
index 2ca8aeca63..72b325c8e8 100644
--- a/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/entity/Entity.java.patch
+++ b/paper-server/patches/sources/net/minecraft/world/entity/Entity.java.patch
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
          this.entityData = builder.build();
          this.setPos(0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
          this.eyeHeight = this.dimensions.eyeHeight();
-+        this.despawnTime = type == EntityType.PLAYER ? -1 : level.paperConfig().entities.spawning.despawnTime.getOrDefault(type, io.papermc.paper.configuration.type.number.IntOr.Disabled.DISABLED).or(-1); // Paper - entity despawn time limit
++        this.despawnTime = level == null || type == EntityType.PLAYER ? -1 : level.paperConfig().entities.spawning.despawnTime.getOrDefault(type, io.papermc.paper.configuration.type.number.IntOr.Disabled.DISABLED).or(-1); // Paper - entity despawn time limit
      }
  
      public boolean isColliding(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) {