diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
index c8ab710873..9285e3314e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jboss/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ public class LocalChannel extends AbstractChannel {
     }
 
     public boolean isConnected() {
-        return pairedChannel != null;
+        return localAddress != null &&
+               pairedChannel != null && pairedChannel.localAddress != null;
     }
 
     public LocalAddress getLocalAddress() {