diff --git a/src/android/LocalFilesystem.java b/src/android/LocalFilesystem.java
index 7f5431c71..52396327b 100644
--- a/src/android/LocalFilesystem.java
+++ b/src/android/LocalFilesystem.java
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ private boolean isPublicDirectory(String absolutePath) {
         // TODO: should expose a way to scan app's private files (maybe via a flag).
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
             for (File f : context.getExternalMediaDirs()) {
-                if (absolutePath.startsWith(f.getAbsolutePath())) {
+                if (f != null && absolutePath.startsWith(f.getAbsolutePath())) {
                     return true;
                 }
             }