diff --git a/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/internal/http/async/AsyncResponseHandler.java b/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/internal/http/async/AsyncResponseHandler.java
index 57d1b072d2cb..00bbd7a1c8bf 100644
--- a/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/internal/http/async/AsyncResponseHandler.java
+++ b/core/sdk-core/src/main/java/software/amazon/awssdk/core/internal/http/async/AsyncResponseHandler.java
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ public void onStream(Publisher<ByteBuffer> publisher) {
 
     @Override
     public void onError(Throwable err) {
-        streamFuture.completeExceptionally(err);
+        if (streamFuture != null) {
+            streamFuture.completeExceptionally(err);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override