diff --git a/java/server/src/org/openqa/grid/internal/utils/SelfRegisteringRemote.java b/java/server/src/org/openqa/grid/internal/utils/SelfRegisteringRemote.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/java/server/src/org/openqa/grid/internal/utils/SelfRegisteringRemote.java
+++ b/java/server/src/org/openqa/grid/internal/utils/SelfRegisteringRemote.java
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ public class SelfRegisteringRemote {
     LOG.fine("Using the json request : " + registrationRequest.toJson());
 
     Boolean register = registrationRequest.getConfiguration().register;
+    if (register == null) {
+      register = false;
+    }
 
     if (!register) {
       LOG.info("No registration sent ( register = false )");
handle when register is null, don't throw NPE, default to false

Fixes #<I>