diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
index 57e652901f5892009d8dccab019f9447423143bb..2ba54997b3fa822eaa8cad09a5a358d35119d9d2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
@@ -369,7 +369,8 @@ public class ConversationFragment extends XmppFragment
                         if (firstVisibleItem < 5
                                 && conversation != null
                                 && conversation.messagesLoaded.compareAndSet(true, false)
-                                && messageList.size() > 0) {
+                                && messageList.size() > 0
+                                && activity != null) {
                             long timestamp = conversation.loadMoreTimestamp();
                             activity.xmppConnectionService.loadMoreMessages(
                                     conversation,