diff --git a/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc b/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
index b3d21c427..92ccb980c 100644
--- a/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
+++ b/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ bool RWSplitSession::route_single_stmt(GWBUF* querybuf)
         }
     }
 
-    if (succp && m_config.connection_keepalive && !TARGET_IS_ALL(route_target))
+    if (succp && target && m_config.connection_keepalive && !TARGET_IS_ALL(route_target))
     {
         handle_connection_keepalive(target);
     }