diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
index 90926735..bf234f79 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/SimpleRepository.java
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ public class SimpleRepository extends Repository
             } catch (PersistenceException pe) {
                 // back out our changes if something got hosed
                 try {
-                    if (supportsTransactions && !conn.isClosed()) {
+                    if (supportsTransactions && conn != null && !conn.isClosed()) {
                         conn.rollback();
                     }
                 } catch (SQLException rbe) {