diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/host/impl/DistributedHostStore.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/host/impl/DistributedHostStore.java
index dcf58e6..9cf9856 100644
--- a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/host/impl/DistributedHostStore.java
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/host/impl/DistributedHostStore.java
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
             }
         }
 
-        if (existingHosts.isEmpty()) {
+        if (existingHosts == null || existingHosts.isEmpty()) {
             return null;
         }
         return existingHosts;