diff --git a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/manager/DependencyManager.java b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/manager/DependencyManager.java
index 6e20719..a904ce3 100644
--- a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/manager/DependencyManager.java
+++ b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/manager/DependencyManager.java
@@ -1159,6 +1159,11 @@
                 Map deps = ( Map ) dependencyMap.get( this );
                 BundleContext bundleContext = m_componentManager.getActivator().getBundleContext();
                 AbstractComponentManager.RefPair refPair = m_bindMethods.getBind().getServiceObject( ref, bundleContext );
+                if ( refPair == null )
+                {
+                    //reference deactivated while we are processing.
+                    return false;
+                }
                 deps.put( ref, refPair );
                 return invokeBindMethod( componentInstance, refPair );
             }