#vulnerable code 
                             private RSocket findRSocket(List<String> tags) {
		if (tags == null) return null;

		List<RSocket> rsockets = registry.getRegistered(tags);

		if (CollectionUtils.isEmpty(rsockets)) {
			log.debug("Unable to find destination RSocket for " + tags);
			return null;
		}
		// TODO: deal with connecting to cluster?

		// TODO: load balancing
		RSocket rsocket = rsockets.get(0);

		// if not connected previously, initialize connection
		return rsocket;
	} 
                            #location 13 
                            #vulnerability type NULL_DEREFERENCE
#fixed code
                             private RSocket findRSocket(List<String> tags) {
		if (tags == null) return null;

		RSocket rsocket = registry.getRegistered(tags);

		if (rsocket == null) {
			log.debug("Unable to find destination RSocket for " + tags);
		}
		// TODO: deal with connecting to cluster?

		return rsocket;
	}