diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/consoleproxy/ConsoleProxyManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/consoleproxy/ConsoleProxyManagerImpl.java
index 33750a082fa..0882d4963a2 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/consoleproxy/ConsoleProxyManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/consoleproxy/ConsoleProxyManagerImpl.java
@@ -1247,8 +1247,13 @@ public class ConsoleProxyManagerImpl implements ConsoleProxyManager,
 			ConsoleAccessAuthenticationCommand cmd) {
 		long vmId = 0;
 		
-		String ticket = ConsoleProxyServlet.genAccessTicket(cmd.getHost(), cmd.getPort(), cmd.getSid(), cmd.getVmId());
 		String ticketInUrl = cmd.getTicket();
+		if(ticketInUrl == null) {
+			s_logger.error("No access ticket found, you could be running an old console proxy. vmId: " + cmd.getVmId());
+			return new ConsoleAccessAuthenticationAnswer(cmd, false);
+		}
+		
+		String ticket = ConsoleProxyServlet.genAccessTicket(cmd.getHost(), cmd.getPort(), cmd.getSid(), cmd.getVmId());
 		if(!ticket.startsWith(ticketInUrl)) {
 			s_logger.error("Access ticket expired or has been modified. vmId: " + cmd.getVmId());
 			return new ConsoleAccessAuthenticationAnswer(cmd, false);