diff --git a/jetty-io/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/io/nio/SelectChannelEndPoint.java b/jetty-io/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/io/nio/SelectChannelEndPoint.java
index 6ab56c4fe2c..7f5f2afc79b 100644
--- a/jetty-io/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/io/nio/SelectChannelEndPoint.java
+++ b/jetty-io/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/io/nio/SelectChannelEndPoint.java
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ public class SelectChannelEndPoint extends ChannelEndPoint implements Runnable,
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    if (_key.isValid())
+                    if (_key!=null && _key.isValid())
                         _key.interestOps(0);
                     else
                         _key=null;