diff --git a/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java b/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
index c106955ff85bb1a38f4caadf655e4bca7ea66b0c..b56d8a60ef8e51000aa45ef02f80ef794e106805 100644
--- a/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
+++ b/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/StartConversationActivity.java
@@ -148,7 +148,9 @@ public class StartConversationActivity extends XmppActivity {
 				
 				@Override
 				public void run() {
-					filter(mSearchEditText.getText().toString());
+					if (mSearchEditText != null) {
+						filter(mSearchEditText.getText().toString());
+					}
 				}
 			});
 		}