diff --git a/source/net/yacy/peers/Dispatcher.java b/source/net/yacy/peers/Dispatcher.java
index 8a05622fe..b206ba3cc 100644
--- a/source/net/yacy/peers/Dispatcher.java
+++ b/source/net/yacy/peers/Dispatcher.java
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ public class Dispatcher {
             }
 
             // put the entry into the cloud
-            if (entry.containersSize() > 0) this.transmissionCloud.put(pTArray, entry);
+            if (this.transmissionCloud != null && entry.containersSize() > 0) this.transmissionCloud.put(pTArray, entry);
         }
     }