diff --git a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
index 3b165a570..624698a4e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/spy/memcached/MemcachedConnection.java
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ private void queueReconnect(MemcachedNode qa, ReconnDelay type, String cause) {
     /* ENABLE_REPLICATION if */
     if (arcusReplEnabled) {
       MemcachedReplicaGroup group = qa.getReplicaGroup();
-      if (group.isDelayedSwitchover() && group.getMasterNode() == qa) {
+      if (group != null && group.isDelayedSwitchover() && group.getMasterNode() == qa) {
         clearDelayedSwitchoverGroup(group);
         ((ArcusReplKetamaNodeLocator) locator).switchoverReplGroup(group);