diff --git a/session.go b/session.go
index c3b0abe94..ecb473124 100644
--- a/session.go
+++ b/session.go
@@ -809,7 +809,9 @@ func (s *session) handleSinglePacket(p *receivedPacket, hdr *wire.Header) bool /
 	}
 	// drop 0-RTT packets, if we are a client
 	if s.perspective == protocol.PerspectiveClient && hdr.Type == protocol.PacketType0RTT {
-		s.tracer.DroppedPacket(logging.PacketType0RTT, p.Size(), logging.PacketDropKeyUnavailable)
+		if s.tracer != nil {
+			s.tracer.DroppedPacket(logging.PacketType0RTT, p.Size(), logging.PacketDropKeyUnavailable)
+		}
 		return false
 	}