diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
index 12ee0c763..655244e26 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ public class ConversationFragment extends XmppFragment
             };
 
     private void loadMoreMessages(boolean paginateBackward, boolean paginationForward, AbsListView view) {
-        if (paginateBackward && !conversation.messagesLoaded.get()) {
+        if (paginateBackward && (conversation != null && !conversation.messagesLoaded.get())) {
             paginateBackward = false;
         }