--- a/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/GeckoApp.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/java/org/mozilla/gecko/GeckoApp.java
@@ -2151,17 +2151,20 @@ public abstract class GeckoApp
     @Override
     public void onPause()
     {
         if (mIsAbortingAppLaunch) {
             super.onPause();
             return;
         }
 
-        lastSelectedTabId = Tabs.getInstance().getSelectedTab().getId();
+        final Tab selectedTab = Tabs.getInstance().getSelectedTab();
+        if (selectedTab != null) {
+            lastSelectedTabId = selectedTab.getId();
+        }
         lastActiveGeckoApp = new WeakReference<GeckoApp>(this);
 
         final HealthRecorder rec = mHealthRecorder;
         final Context context = this;
 
         // In some way it's sad that Android will trigger StrictMode warnings
         // here as the whole point is to save to disk while the activity is not
         // interacting with the user.