diff --git a/elx-common/src/main/java/org/xbib/elx/common/AbstractSearchClient.java b/elx-common/src/main/java/org/xbib/elx/common/AbstractSearchClient.java
index 090d05e..4928853 100644
--- a/elx-common/src/main/java/org/xbib/elx/common/AbstractSearchClient.java
+++ b/elx-common/src/main/java/org/xbib/elx/common/AbstractSearchClient.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractSearchClient extends AbstractBasicClient implement
     @Override
     public void close() throws IOException {
         super.close();
-        if (!searchMetric.isClosed()) {
+        if (searchMetric != null && !searchMetric.isClosed()) {
             searchMetric.close();
         }
     }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index ff49a21..5f08f21 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 group = org.xbib
 name = elx
-version = 7.10.2.11
+version = 7.10.2.12
 
 gradle.wrapper.version = 6.6.1
 xbib-metrics.version = 2.1.0