diff --git a/dspace/modules/additions/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/util/SyndicationFeed.java b/dspace/modules/additions/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/util/SyndicationFeed.java
index cf22fcb4ef647b2a25001e56f6eccf6b122426d6..22f2e21056efd0530462db088c791f1b03f5c32a 100644
--- a/dspace/modules/additions/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/util/SyndicationFeed.java
+++ b/dspace/modules/additions/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/util/SyndicationFeed.java
@@ -532,7 +532,14 @@ public class SyndicationFeed
         try
         {
             Thumbnail thumbnail = ItemService.getThumbnail(new Context(), item.getID(), false);
-            return urlOfBitstream(request, thumbnail.getThumb());
+            if (thumbnail != null)
+            {
+                return urlOfBitstream(request, thumbnail.getThumb());
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                return null;
+            }
         }
         catch (SQLException e) 
         {