diff --git a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/networkdb/kademlia/FloodfillNetworkDatabaseFacade.java b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/networkdb/kademlia/FloodfillNetworkDatabaseFacade.java
index a1f015aa3b..9835e4311b 100644
--- a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/networkdb/kademlia/FloodfillNetworkDatabaseFacade.java
+++ b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/networkdb/kademlia/FloodfillNetworkDatabaseFacade.java
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ boolean shouldThrottleLookup(Hash from, TunnelId id) {
 
     boolean shouldThrottleBurstLookup(Hash from, TunnelId id) {
         // null before startup
-        return _lookupThrottler == null || _lookupThrottlerBurst.shouldThrottle(from, id);
+        return _lookupThrottlerBurst == null || _lookupThrottlerBurst.shouldThrottle(from, id);
     }
 
     /**