diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/ConnStatusHandler.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/ConnStatusHandler.java
index 487dbd2e6..ea5f3e3f7 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/ConnStatusHandler.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/ConnStatusHandler.java
@@ -722,7 +722,9 @@ public class ConnStatusHandler {
                                         fcmMsg );
                 break;
             case COMMS_CONN_MQTT:
-                result = String.format("DevID: %s", addr.mqtt_devID );
+                if ( null != addr ) {
+                    result = String.format("DevID: %s", addr.mqtt_devID );
+                }
                 break;
             case COMMS_CONN_P2P:
                 result = WiDirService.formatNetStateInfo();