diff --git a/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go b/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
index 7f76ac800..0e10ba241 100644
--- a/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
+++ b/p2p/conn/secret_connection.go
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ func MakeSecretConnection(conn io.ReadWriteCloser, locPrivKey crypto.PrivKey) (*
 	}
 
 	remPubKey, remSignature := authSigMsg.Key, authSigMsg.Sig
+
+	if remPubKey == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("Peer sent a nil public key")
+	}
+
 	if !remPubKey.VerifyBytes(challenge[:], remSignature) {
 		return nil, errors.New("Challenge verification failed")
 	}