diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/voice/VoiceRecognizer.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/voice/VoiceRecognizer.java
index 7da4e2583..2665e4058 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/voice/VoiceRecognizer.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/voice/VoiceRecognizer.java
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public class VoiceRecognizer {
     }
 
     public void startVoiceRecognition(Context context, String currentVoiceFile) {
-        if (speechRecordingAvailable(context)) {
+        if (speechRecordingAvailable(context) && recognizerApi != null) {
             recognizerApi.setTemporaryFile(currentVoiceFile);
             recognizerApi.start();
         } else {