--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/BrowserApp.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/BrowserApp.java
@@ -2319,17 +2319,18 @@ public class BrowserApp extends GeckoApp
 
         final PropertyAnimator animator = new PropertyAnimator(250);
         animator.setUseHardwareLayer(false);
 
         TransitionsTracker.track(animator);
 
         mBrowserToolbar.startEditing(url, animator);
 
-        final boolean isUserSearchTerm = !TextUtils.isEmpty(selectedTab.getUserRequested());
+        final boolean isUserSearchTerm = selectedTab != null &&
+                !TextUtils.isEmpty(selectedTab.getUserRequested());
         if (isUserSearchTerm && SwitchBoard.isInExperiment(getContext(), Experiments.SEARCH_TERM)) {
             showBrowserSearchAfterAnimation(animator);
         } else {
             showHomePagerWithAnimator(panelId, animator);
         }
 
         animator.start();
         Telemetry.startUISession(TelemetryContract.Session.AWESOMESCREEN);