diff --git a/LibreMetaverse/Capabilities/EventQueueClient.cs b/LibreMetaverse/Capabilities/EventQueueClient.cs
index 3776d15b..16bb2850 100644
--- a/LibreMetaverse/Capabilities/EventQueueClient.cs
+++ b/LibreMetaverse/Capabilities/EventQueueClient.cs
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ namespace OpenMetaverse.Http
         public ConnectedCallback OnConnected;
         public EventCallback OnEvent;
 
-        public bool Running => !_eqTask.IsCompleted 
+        public bool Running => _eqTask != null 
+                               && !_eqTask.IsCompleted 
                                && (_eqTask.Status.Equals(TaskStatus.Running) 
                                    || _eqTask.Status.Equals(TaskStatus.WaitingToRun)
                                    || _eqTask.Status.Equals(TaskStatus.WaitingForActivation));