diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/netguard/SinkholeService.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/netguard/SinkholeService.java
index d796c4b7..98e22cbe 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/netguard/SinkholeService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/netguard/SinkholeService.java
@@ -421,6 +421,9 @@ public class SinkholeService extends VpnService implements SharedPreferences.OnS
                     stopNative(prev, false);
                     stopVPN(prev);
                 }
+                if (vpn == null)
+                    throw new IllegalStateException("VPN start failed");
+
                 startNative(vpn, listAllowed);
             }