diff --git a/api/src/main/java/io/minio/messages/Item.java b/api/src/main/java/io/minio/messages/Item.java
index 7bca672ca..0512a07a5 100644
--- a/api/src/main/java/io/minio/messages/Item.java
+++ b/api/src/main/java/io/minio/messages/Item.java
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public String objectName() {
 
   /** Returns last modified time of the object. */
   public ZonedDateTime lastModified() {
-    return lastModified.zonedDateTime();
+    return (lastModified == null) ? null : lastModified.zonedDateTime();
   }
 
   /** Returns ETag of the object. */