diff --git a/common/vcloud/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/predicates/TaskSuccess.java b/common/vcloud/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/predicates/TaskSuccess.java
index d83b318d8f..2dcb16a881 100644
--- a/common/vcloud/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/predicates/TaskSuccess.java
+++ b/common/vcloud/src/main/java/org/jclouds/vcloud/predicates/TaskSuccess.java
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ public class TaskSuccess implements Predicate<URI> {
       logger.trace("looking for status on task %s", taskId);
 
       Task task = client.getTask(taskId);
+      // perhaps task isn't available, yet
+      if (task == null)
+         return false;
       logger.trace("%s: looking for status %s: currently: %s", task, TaskStatus.SUCCESS, task.getStatus());
       if (task.getStatus() == TaskStatus.ERROR)
          throw new RuntimeException("error on task: " + task.getHref() + " error: " + task.getError());