diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/loader/ast/internal/CollectionLoaderSubSelectFetch.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/loader/ast/internal/CollectionLoaderSubSelectFetch.java
index 1a800cb336..25d9e6b501 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/loader/ast/internal/CollectionLoaderSubSelectFetch.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/loader/ast/internal/CollectionLoaderSubSelectFetch.java
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ public class CollectionLoaderSubSelectFetch implements CollectionLoader {
 							new CollectionKey( attributeMapping.getCollectionDescriptor(), key.getIdentifier() )
 					);
 
-					if ( containedCollection != collection ) {
+					if ( containedCollection != null && containedCollection != collection ) {
 						containedCollection.beginRead();
 						containedCollection.beforeInitialize( getLoadable().getCollectionDescriptor(), -1 );