diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/Block.java b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/Block.java
index 5b6c6307..a962cb44 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/Block.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/Block.java
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ public class Block extends Message {
      * purely a header).
      */
     public boolean hasTransactions() {
-        return !this.transactions.isEmpty();
+        return (this.transactions != null) && !this.transactions.isEmpty();
     }
 
     /**