diff --git a/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/activemq/broker/AbstractConnection.java b/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/activemq/broker/AbstractConnection.java
index e42e60d93a..b80bbafef4 100755
--- a/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/activemq/broker/AbstractConnection.java
+++ b/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/activemq/broker/AbstractConnection.java
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractConnection implements Service, Connection, Task, C
         
         this.connector = connector;
         this.broker = broker;
-        this.statistics.setParent(connector.getStatistics());
+        if (connector != null) {
+            this.statistics.setParent(connector.getStatistics());
+        }
         
         if( taskRunnerFactory != null ) {
             taskRunner = taskRunnerFactory.createTaskRunner( this );