diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
index beb20684f..f408ffdb3 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardActivity.java
@@ -1748,7 +1748,9 @@ public class BoardActivity extends XWActivity
             break;
         case COMMS_CONN_RELAY:
             String relayID = DBUtils.getRelayID( this, m_rowid );
-            id = relayID.hashCode();
+            if ( null != relayID ) {
+                id = relayID.hashCode();
+            }
             break;
         }
         if ( 0 != id ) {