diff --git a/symmetric-io/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/io/data/writer/SimpleStagingDataWriter.java b/symmetric-io/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/io/data/writer/SimpleStagingDataWriter.java
index 06a5fc55be..a3fcc95601 100644
--- a/symmetric-io/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/io/data/writer/SimpleStagingDataWriter.java
+++ b/symmetric-io/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/io/data/writer/SimpleStagingDataWriter.java
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ public void process() throws IOException {
             } else if (line.startsWith(CsvConstants.CHANNEL)) {
                 channelLine = line;
             } else {
+                if (writer == null) {
+                    throw new IllegalStateException("Invalid batch data was received: " + line);
+                }
                 TableLine batchLine = batchTableLines.get(tableLine);
                 if (batchLine == null || (batchLine != null && batchLine.columnsLine == null)) {
                     TableLine syncLine = syncTableLines.get(tableLine);