diff --git a/ts3-client/core/src/main/java/com/ts3client/net/TeamspeakConnection.java b/ts3-client/core/src/main/java/com/ts3client/net/TeamspeakConnection.java
index 57bb9ba..9561538 100644
--- a/ts3-client/core/src/main/java/com/ts3client/net/TeamspeakConnection.java
+++ b/ts3-client/core/src/main/java/com/ts3client/net/TeamspeakConnection.java
@@ -404,6 +404,8 @@ public final class TeamspeakConnection implements TS3Listener {
      */
     private void joinDefaultChannelIfNeeded(String channel, String channelPassword) {
         if (normaliseChannelRef(channel) == null) return;
+        LocalTeamspeakClientSocket sock = client;
+        if (sock == null || !connected) return; // already left again
         ChannelNode target = model.findChannelByPath(channel);
         if (target == null) {
             ui.onError("Channel \"" + channel.trim() + "\" not found on this server.");
@@ -411,9 +413,10 @@ public final class TeamspeakConnection implements TS3Listener {
         }
         if (currentChannelId() == target.id) return; // clientinit already put us there
         try {
-            client.joinChannel(target.id, (channelPassword == null || channelPassword.isEmpty())
+            sock.joinChannel(target.id, (channelPassword == null || channelPassword.isEmpty())
                     ? null : channelPassword);
         } catch (Exception e) {
+            if (!connected) return;
             error("Could not join channel \"" + target.name + "\": " + rootMessage(e));
         }
     }