diff --git a/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
index 4173cacfc7..6c8a4fd1c2 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/audio/AudioMixer.cpp
@@ -774,7 +774,8 @@ void AudioMixer::run() {
                 nodeData->checkBuffersBeforeFrameSend();
             
                 // if the stream should be muted, send mute packet
-                if (shouldMute(nodeData->getAvatarAudioStream()->getQuietestFrameLoudness())) {
+                if (nodeData->getAvatarAudioStream()
+                    && shouldMute(nodeData->getAvatarAudioStream()->getQuietestFrameLoudness())) {
                     static const int TIME_BETWEEN_MUTES = 5; // in secs
                     if (usecTimestampNow() - nodeData->getAvatarAudioStream()->getLastMuted() >
                         TIME_BETWEEN_MUTES * USECS_PER_SECOND) {