diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 1227412fe48..37b01f75990 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -1703,8 +1703,9 @@ bool StopNode()
     fShutdown = true;
     nTransactionsUpdated++;
     int64 nStart = GetTime();
-    for (int i=0; i<MAX_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS; i++)
-         semOutbound->post();
+    if (semOutbound)
+        for (int i=0; i<MAX_OUTBOUND_CONNECTIONS; i++)
+            semOutbound->post();
     do
     {
         int nThreadsRunning = 0;