diff --git a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/grounditems/GroundItemsOverlay.java b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/grounditems/GroundItemsOverlay.java
index 82fa52a8e4..40b8a7f97c 100644
--- a/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/grounditems/GroundItemsOverlay.java
+++ b/runelite-client/src/main/java/net/runelite/client/plugins/grounditems/GroundItemsOverlay.java
@@ -352,7 +352,11 @@ public class GroundItemsOverlay extends Overlay
 					plugin.setHighlightBoxBounds(new SimpleEntry<>(itemHighlightBox, item));
 				}
 
-				boolean topItem = topGroundItem.equals(item);
+				boolean topItem = false;
+				if (topGroundItem != null)
+				{
+					topItem = topGroundItem.equals(item);
+				}
 
 				// Draw background if hovering
 				if (topItem && (mouseInBox || mouseInHiddenBox || mouseInHighlightBox))