diff --git a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
index 16101fc317ff..a9319aeeb6a1 100644
--- a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
+++ b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ private static  PKIHeaderData parseCipher(String cipher, PublicKey key) {
   }
 
   PublicKey getRemotePublicKey(String nodename) {
+    if (!cores.getZkController().getZkStateReader().getClusterState().getLiveNodes().contains(nodename)) return null;
     String url = cores.getZkController().getZkStateReader().getBaseUrlForNodeName(nodename);
     try {
       String uri = url + PATH + "?wt=json&omitHeader=true";