diff --git a/apps/i2psnark/java/src/org/klomp/snark/TrackerClient.java b/apps/i2psnark/java/src/org/klomp/snark/TrackerClient.java
index 2007fb84f2812bfb3b6c93f899b4a555311930b4..dd3b8665b970de1354455b130764a9fd9d9d1756 100644
--- a/apps/i2psnark/java/src/org/klomp/snark/TrackerClient.java
+++ b/apps/i2psnark/java/src/org/klomp/snark/TrackerClient.java
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ public class TrackerClient extends I2PAppThread
         primary = "";
     }
     List tlist = _util.getOpenTrackers();
-    if (tlist != null && !meta.isPrivate()) {
+    if (tlist != null && (meta == null || !meta.isPrivate())) {
         for (int i = 0; i < tlist.size(); i++) {
              String url = (String)tlist.get(i);
              if (!isValidAnnounce(url)) {