diff --git a/gateway-service/src/main/java/org/zowe/apiml/gateway/service/RouteLocator.java b/gateway-service/src/main/java/org/zowe/apiml/gateway/service/RouteLocator.java
index 8f84bbd38b..f82a28aefe 100644
--- a/gateway-service/src/main/java/org/zowe/apiml/gateway/service/RouteLocator.java
+++ b/gateway-service/src/main/java/org/zowe/apiml/gateway/service/RouteLocator.java
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ List<FilterDefinition> getPostRoutingFilters(ServiceInstance serviceInstance) {
             rateLimiterFilter.addArg("tokens", serviceInstance.getMetadata().get("gateway.rateLimiterTokens"));
             rateLimiterFilter.addArg("refillDuration", serviceInstance.getMetadata().get("gateway.refillDuration"));
             serviceRelated.add(rateLimiterFilter);
-        } else if (servicesToLimitRequestRate.contains(serviceInstance.getServiceId().toLowerCase())) {
+        } else if (servicesToLimitRequestRate != null && servicesToLimitRequestRate.contains(serviceInstance.getServiceId().toLowerCase())) {
             FilterDefinition rateLimiterFilter = new FilterDefinition();
             rateLimiterFilter.setName("InMemoryRateLimiterFilterFactory");
             serviceRelated.add(rateLimiterFilter);