diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowId.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowId.java
index 6bcf1db..52eac0a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowId.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/net/flow/FlowId.java
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
         if (this == obj) {
             return true;
         }
+        if (obj == null) {
+            return false;
+        }
         if (obj.getClass()  == this.getClass()) {
             FlowId that = (FlowId) obj;
             return Objects.equal(this.flowid, that.flowid);