diff --git a/x/slashing/keeper.go b/x/slashing/keeper.go
index 48755ce4b..61dfe588f 100644
--- a/x/slashing/keeper.go
+++ b/x/slashing/keeper.go
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) slashingSideDowntime(ctx sdk.Context, pack *SideSlashPackage) s
 	//}
 	k.setValidatorSigningInfo(sideCtx, sideConsAddr, signInfo)
 
-	if k.PbsbServer != nil {
+	if k.PbsbServer != nil && validator != nil {
 		event := SideSlashEvent{
 			Validator:              validator.GetOperator(),
 			InfractionType:         Downtime,