diff --git a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
index 54b02de..5b7266e 100644
--- a/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
+++ b/utils/netty/src/main/java/org/onlab/netty/NettyMessagingService.java
@@ -315,7 +315,11 @@
                 return;
             }
             MessageHandler handler = NettyMessagingService.this.getMessageHandler(type);
-            handler.handle(message);
+            if (handler != null) {
+                handler.handle(message);
+            } else {
+                log.debug("No handler registered for {}", type);
+            }
         }
 
         @Override