--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/mozglue/SharedMemBuffer.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/mozglue/SharedMemBuffer.java
@@ -49,27 +49,35 @@ public final class SharedMemBuffer imple
         return mSharedMem != null ? mSharedMem.getSize() : 0;
     }
 
     @Override
     public void readFromByteBuffer(ByteBuffer src, int offset, int size) throws IOException {
         if (!src.isDirect()) {
             throw new IOException("SharedMemBuffer only support reading from direct byte buffer.");
         }
-        nativeReadFromDirectBuffer(src, mSharedMem.getPointer(), offset, size);
+        try {
+            nativeReadFromDirectBuffer(src, mSharedMem.getPointer(), offset, size);
+        } catch (NullPointerException e) {
+            throw new IOException(e);
+        }
     }
 
     private native static void nativeReadFromDirectBuffer(ByteBuffer src, long dest, int offset, int size);
 
     @Override
     public void writeToByteBuffer(ByteBuffer dest, int offset, int size) throws IOException {
         if (!dest.isDirect()) {
             throw new IOException("SharedMemBuffer only support writing to direct byte buffer.");
         }
-        nativeWriteToDirectBuffer(mSharedMem.getPointer(), dest, offset, size);
+        try {
+            nativeWriteToDirectBuffer(mSharedMem.getPointer(), dest, offset, size);
+        } catch (NullPointerException e) {
+            throw new IOException(e);
+        }
     }
 
     private native static void nativeWriteToDirectBuffer(long src, ByteBuffer dest, int offset, int size);
 
     @Override
     public void dispose() {
         if (mSharedMem != null) {
             mSharedMem.dispose();