diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyIOBuffer.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyIOBuffer.java
index a538933a178..149b4166209 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyIOBuffer.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/RubyIOBuffer.java
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ public static RubyClass createIOBufferClass(Ruby runtime) {
     public static final int NETWORK_ENDIAN = BIG_ENDIAN;
 
     public static RubyIOBuffer newBuffer(Ruby runtime, ByteBuffer base, int size, int flags) {
+        if (base == null) return newBuffer(runtime, size, flags);
+
         return new RubyIOBuffer(runtime, runtime.getIOBuffer(), base, size, flags);
     }