diff --git a/providers/lldp/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/lldp/impl/LldpLinkProvider.java b/providers/lldp/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/lldp/impl/LldpLinkProvider.java
index 16a6fc0..dca849e 100644
--- a/providers/lldp/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/lldp/impl/LldpLinkProvider.java
+++ b/providers/lldp/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/lldp/impl/LldpLinkProvider.java
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
      * Loads available devices and registers their ports to be probed.
      */
     private void loadDevices() {
-        if (!enabled) {
+        if (!enabled || deviceService == null) {
             return;
         }
         deviceService.getAvailableDevices()