diff --git a/pkg/actor/simple_grain_pool.go b/pkg/actor/simple_grain_pool.go
index 5b0a21c..05a500d 100644
--- a/pkg/actor/simple_grain_pool.go
+++ b/pkg/actor/simple_grain_pool.go
@@ -370,8 +370,12 @@ func (p *SimpleGrainPool[V]) Apply(id uint64, mutation proto.Message) (*V, error
 	if applyErr := p.mutationRegistry.Apply(grain, mutation); applyErr != nil {
 		return nil, applyErr
 	}
-	if err := p.storage.AppendEvent(id, mutation); err != nil {
-		log.Printf("failed to store mutation for grain %d: %v", id, err)
+	if p.storage != nil {
+		go func() {
+			if err := p.storage.AppendEvent(id, mutation); err != nil {
+				log.Printf("failed to store mutation for grain %d: %v", id, err)
+			}
+		}()
 	}
 	return grain.GetCurrentState()
 }