diff --git a/src/main/java/net/minecraftforge/fml/common/network/handshake/NetworkDispatcher.java b/src/main/java/net/minecraftforge/fml/common/network/handshake/NetworkDispatcher.java
index 2bc977fa8..9faf63a22 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/minecraftforge/fml/common/network/handshake/NetworkDispatcher.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/minecraftforge/fml/common/network/handshake/NetworkDispatcher.java
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ public class NetworkDispatcher extends SimpleChannelInboundHandler<Packet<?>> im
         if (!(cause instanceof ClosedChannelException))
         {
             // Mute the reset by peer exception - it's disconnection noise
-            if (cause.getMessage().contains("Connection reset by peer"))
+            if (cause.getMessage() != null && cause.getMessage().contains("Connection reset by peer"))
             {
                 FMLLog.log(Level.DEBUG, cause, "Muted NetworkDispatcher exception");
             }