diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
index 1fe5cbb41..d2e5ee22d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/nearby/NearbyActivity.java
@@ -189,7 +189,9 @@ public class NearbyActivity extends NavigationBaseActivity {
     @Override
     protected void onPause() {
         super.onPause();
-        nearbyAsyncTask.cancel(true);
+        if (nearbyAsyncTask != null) {
+            nearbyAsyncTask.cancel(true);
+        }
     }
 
     protected void refreshView() {