diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
index 67e6b8275..34425eec9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ public class ConversationFragment extends XmppFragment
                     toggleScrollDownButton(view);
                     synchronized (ConversationFragment.this.messageList) {
                         boolean paginateBackward = firstVisibleItem < 5;
-                        boolean paginationForward = conversation.isInHistoryPart() && firstVisibleItem + visibleItemCount + 5 > totalItemCount;
+                        boolean paginationForward = conversation != null && conversation.isInHistoryPart() && firstVisibleItem + visibleItemCount + 5 > totalItemCount;
                         loadMoreMessages(paginateBackward, paginationForward, view);
                     }
                 }