diff --git a/dspace-oai/src/main/java/org/dspace/xoai/util/ItemUtils.java b/dspace-oai/src/main/java/org/dspace/xoai/util/ItemUtils.java
index 955c3a78c39..35bef8c8d77 100644
--- a/dspace-oai/src/main/java/org/dspace/xoai/util/ItemUtils.java
+++ b/dspace-oai/src/main/java/org/dspace/xoai/util/ItemUtils.java
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ private static Element createBundlesElement(Context context, Item item) throws S
             bundle.getElement().add(bitstreams);
             List<Bitstream> bits = b.getBitstreams();
             for (Bitstream bit : bits) {
+                // Check if bitstream is null and log the error
+                if (bit == null) {
+                    log.error("Null bitstream found, check item uuid: " + item.getID());
+                    break;
+                }
                 Element bitstream = create("bitstream");
                 bitstreams.getElement().add(bitstream);
                 String url = "";