diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/network/NetworkManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/network/NetworkManagerImpl.java
index 0e7adaf5c22..ecd7b06ad02 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/network/NetworkManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/network/NetworkManagerImpl.java
@@ -1401,11 +1401,13 @@ public class NetworkManagerImpl implements NetworkManager, VirtualMachineManager
         }
 
         final DomainRouterVO router = _routerDao.findBy(ipVO.getAccountId(), ipVO.getDataCenterId());
-        Long hostId = router.getHostId();
+
         if (router == null || router.getHostId() == null) {
         	return true;
         }
         
+        Long hostId = router.getHostId();        
+        
         if (rule.isForwarding()) {
             return updatePortForwardingRule(rule, router, hostId, oldPrivateIP, oldPrivatePort);
         } else {