diff --git a/sdk-core/src/main/java/io/milvus/v2/utils/VectorUtils.java b/sdk-core/src/main/java/io/milvus/v2/utils/VectorUtils.java
index 7bec544fa..455fa2a48 100644
--- a/sdk-core/src/main/java/io/milvus/v2/utils/VectorUtils.java
+++ b/sdk-core/src/main/java/io/milvus/v2/utils/VectorUtils.java
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public SearchRequest ConvertToGrpcSearchRequest(SearchReq request) {
 
         // prepare target, the input could be vectors or string list for doc-in-doc-out
         List<BaseVector> vectors = request.getData();
-        if (vectors.isEmpty()) {
+        if (vectors == null || vectors.isEmpty()) {
             throw new MilvusClientException(ErrorCode.INVALID_PARAMS, "Target data list of search request is empty.");
         }