diff --git a/arangod/Cluster/ClusterInfo.cpp b/arangod/Cluster/ClusterInfo.cpp
index 984cf05933..3655428e70 100644
--- a/arangod/Cluster/ClusterInfo.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Cluster/ClusterInfo.cpp
@@ -2873,6 +2873,11 @@ int ClusterInfo::ensureIndexCoordinatorInner(std::string const& databaseName,
         // Finally check if it has appeared, if not, we take another turn,
         // which does not do any harm:
         auto coll = getCollection(databaseName, collectionID);
+        if (coll == nullptr) {
+          errorMsg = "The collection has gone. Aborting index creation";
+          return TRI_ERROR_ARANGO_INDEX_CREATION_FAILED;
+        }
+
         auto indexes = coll->getIndexes();
         if (std::any_of(indexes.begin(), indexes.end(),
                         [indexId](std::shared_ptr<arangodb::Index>& index) -> bool {