diff --git a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/core/internal/OFChannelHandler.java b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/core/internal/OFChannelHandler.java
index e0e0691..45753f9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/core/internal/OFChannelHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/floodlightcontroller/core/internal/OFChannelHandler.java
@@ -2091,7 +2091,7 @@
                     + getSwitchInfoString()
                     + "state " + this.state, e.getCause());
             counters.switchDisconnectOtherException.updateCounterWithFlush();
-            ctx.getChannel().close();
+            ctx.getChannel().close(); // NPE's land here.
         }
     }