diff --git a/incubator/store/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/store/virtual/impl/SimpleVirtualGroupStore.java b/incubator/store/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/store/virtual/impl/SimpleVirtualGroupStore.java
index 98e3d87..9c71eb5 100644
--- a/incubator/store/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/store/virtual/impl/SimpleVirtualGroupStore.java
+++ b/incubator/store/src/main/java/org/onosproject/incubator/store/virtual/impl/SimpleVirtualGroupStore.java
@@ -731,6 +731,9 @@
                     existing = groupEntriesById.get(networkId)
                             .get(group.deviceId()).get(group.id());
                 }
+                if (existing == null) {
+                    break;
+                }
 
                 log.trace("groupMissing: group "
                                   + "entry {} in device {} moving "