diff --git a/maplejuice/utils.go b/maplejuice/utils.go
index 3b6536394ba582f10410dc7d7671d69ee75a55f3..4c6febe8bf55fd847c54f44c65d2b84a960c9fdc 100644
--- a/maplejuice/utils.go
+++ b/maplejuice/utils.go
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ func establishConnection(workerIP string) net.Conn {
 }
 
 func Send(sender string, conn net.Conn, msgType MsgType, payload interface{}) error {
+	if conn == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("Connection is nil")
+	}
 	message := Message{
 		Sender:  sender,
 		Type:    msgType,