diff --git a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
index fcf8efb..06febb1 100644
--- a/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
+++ b/apps/fwd/src/main/java/org/onosproject/fwd/ReactiveForwarding.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Property;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Reference;
 import org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.ReferenceCardinality;
+import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
 import org.onosproject.core.ApplicationId;
 import org.onosproject.core.CoreService;
 import org.onosproject.net.Host;
@@ -46,7 +47,6 @@
 import org.onosproject.net.packet.PacketProcessor;
 import org.onosproject.net.packet.PacketService;
 import org.onosproject.net.topology.TopologyService;
-import org.onlab.packet.Ethernet;
 import org.osgi.service.component.ComponentContext;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@
             InboundPacket pkt = context.inPacket();
             Ethernet ethPkt = pkt.parsed();
 
+            if (ethPkt == null) {
+                return;
+            }
+
             // Bail if this is deemed to be a control packet.
             if (isControlPacket(ethPkt)) {
                 return;