diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/org/asamk/signal/manager/helper/StorageHelper.java b/lib/src/main/java/org/asamk/signal/manager/helper/StorageHelper.java
index 960ed1d5..dfed3d43 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/org/asamk/signal/manager/helper/StorageHelper.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/org/asamk/signal/manager/helper/StorageHelper.java
@@ -129,18 +129,18 @@ public class StorageHelper {
         final var groupV1Record = record.getGroupV1().get();
         final var groupIdV1 = GroupId.v1(groupV1Record.getGroupId());
 
-        final var group = account.getGroupStore().getGroup(groupIdV1);
+        var group = account.getGroupStore().getGroup(groupIdV1);
         if (group == null) {
             try {
                 context.getGroupHelper().sendGroupInfoRequest(groupIdV1, account.getSelfRecipientId());
             } catch (Throwable e) {
                 logger.warn("Failed to send group request", e);
             }
+            group = account.getGroupStore().getOrCreateGroupV1(groupIdV1);
         }
-        final var groupV1 = account.getGroupStore().getOrCreateGroupV1(groupIdV1);
-        if (groupV1.isBlocked() != groupV1Record.isBlocked()) {
-            groupV1.setBlocked(groupV1Record.isBlocked());
-            account.getGroupStore().updateGroup(groupV1);
+        if (group != null && group.isBlocked() != groupV1Record.isBlocked()) {
+            group.setBlocked(groupV1Record.isBlocked());
+            account.getGroupStore().updateGroup(group);
         }
     }