diff --git a/synced-pool.go b/synced-pool.go
index 23a0614..b8b5914 100644
--- a/synced-pool.go
+++ b/synced-pool.go
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ func (p *SyncedPool) getGrainPool(id CartId) (GrainPool, error) {
 		p.mu.RLock()
 		remotePool, ok := p.remoteIndex[id]
 		p.mu.RUnlock()
-		if ok {
+		if ok && remotePool != nil {
 			remoteLookupCount.Inc()
 			return remotePool, nil
 		}