diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
index ff303fde464..e0b33fbae48 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ public void reloadConfig() {
         getFreezeAfkPlayers = _getFreezeAfkPlayers();
         sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers = _sleepIgnoresAfkPlayers();
         afkListName = _getAfkListName();
-        isAfkListName = !afkListName.equalsIgnoreCase("none");
+        isAfkListName = afkListName != null && !afkListName.equalsIgnoreCase("none");
         broadcastAfkMessage = _broadcastAfkMessage();
         itemSpawnBl = _getItemSpawnBlacklist();
         loginAttackDelay = _getLoginAttackDelay();