diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
index f502478dc..7b89c9272 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/DB2Dictionary.java
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ public class DB2Dictionary
         else
             isolationLevel = conf.getTransactionIsolationConstant();
 
-        if (fetch.getReadLockLevel() >= MixedLockLevels.LOCK_PESSIMISTIC_WRITE)
+        if (fetch != null
+            && fetch.getReadLockLevel() >= MixedLockLevels.LOCK_PESSIMISTIC_WRITE)
             isolationLevel = Connection.TRANSACTION_SERIALIZABLE;
 
         if (isForUpdate) {