diff --git a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFTextRun.java b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFTextRun.java
index b909704d24..a0be4a8a97 100644
--- a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFTextRun.java
+++ b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFTextRun.java
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ public class XSLFTextRun implements TextRun, HighlightColorSupport {
         }
 
         final CTSRgbColor rgbCol = col.getSrgbClr();
+        if (rgbCol == null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         final byte[] cols = rgbCol.getVal();
         final SolidPaint paint = DrawPaint.createSolidPaint(new Color(0xFF & cols[0], 0xFF & cols[1], 0xFF & cols[2]));
         highlightColor.accept(paint);