diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/runtime/thread.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/runtime/thread.cpp
index b93e70a0353..b1571f2d594 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/runtime/thread.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/runtime/thread.cpp
@@ -888,7 +888,9 @@ bool Thread::claim_par_threads_do(uintx claim_token) {
 }
 
 void Thread::oops_do(OopClosure* f, CodeBlobClosure* cf) {
-  active_handles()->oops_do(f);
+  if (active_handles() != NULL) {
+    active_handles()->oops_do(f);
+  }
   // Do oop for ThreadShadow
   f->do_oop((oop*)&_pending_exception);
   handle_area()->oops_do(f);