diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/chado/SqlMapClientWrapper.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/chado/SqlMapClientWrapper.java
index 6d6caa75901f613a5f7336a1b78ae7e55f2d600c..d3171c7fd56c46219c3c23594ef7d5abb75e49c6 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/chado/SqlMapClientWrapper.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/chado/SqlMapClientWrapper.java
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ public class SqlMapClientWrapper
   
   protected void endTransaction() throws SQLException
   { 
-    sqlMap.endTransaction();
+    if(sqlMap != null)
+      sqlMap.endTransaction();
   }
   
   protected void commitTransaction() throws SQLException