diff --git a/android/src/main/java/co/tryterra/terra_flutter_bridge/TerraFlutterPlugin.java b/android/src/main/java/co/tryterra/terra_flutter_bridge/TerraFlutterPlugin.java
index 1ad68e2..ae7a461 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/co/tryterra/terra_flutter_bridge/TerraFlutterPlugin.java
+++ b/android/src/main/java/co/tryterra/terra_flutter_bridge/TerraFlutterPlugin.java
@@ -479,7 +479,12 @@ public void onMethodCall(@NonNull MethodCall call, @NonNull Result result) {
 
   @Override
   public void onDetachedFromEngine(@NonNull FlutterPluginBinding binding) {
-    channel.setMethodCallHandler(null);
+    // channel is created in onAttachedToActivity, so a headless engine that never
+    // attaches an Activity (e.g. an FCM background isolate) reaches here with it null.
+    if (channel != null) {
+      channel.setMethodCallHandler(null);
+      channel = null;
+    }
   }
 
 }