diff --git a/src/main/java/baritone/utils/ToolSet.java b/src/main/java/baritone/utils/ToolSet.java
index 38b1fafdd..ed4b166cf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/baritone/utils/ToolSet.java
+++ b/src/main/java/baritone/utils/ToolSet.java
@@ -177,7 +177,13 @@ private double avoidanceMultiplier(Block b) {
      * @return how long it would take in ticks
      */
     public static double calculateSpeedVsBlock(ItemStack item, BlockState state) {
-        float hardness = state.getDestroySpeed(null, null);
+        float hardness;
+        try {
+            hardness = state.getDestroySpeed(null, null);
+        } catch (NullPointerException npe) {
+            // can't easily determine the hardness so treat it as unbreakable
+            return -1;
+        }
         if (hardness < 0) {
             return -1;
         }