diff --git a/src/gxs/rsgxsnetservice.cc b/src/gxs/rsgxsnetservice.cc
index ff70fe89e..26767f175 100644
--- a/src/gxs/rsgxsnetservice.cc
+++ b/src/gxs/rsgxsnetservice.cc
@@ -235,6 +235,10 @@ void RsGxsNetService::syncWithPeers()
 
     std::set<RsPeerId> peers;
     mNetMgr->getOnlineList(mServiceInfo.mServiceType, peers);
+    if (peers.empty()) {
+        // nothing to do
+        return;
+    }
 
     std::set<RsPeerId>::iterator sit = peers.begin();