diff --git a/smoke-tests/src/main/java/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTestRunner.java b/smoke-tests/src/main/java/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTestRunner.java
index 935866770cba..fcf6a54cdf16 100644
--- a/smoke-tests/src/main/java/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTestRunner.java
+++ b/smoke-tests/src/main/java/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTestRunner.java
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ public void afterTestClass() {}
 
   @Override
   public void clearAllExportedData() {
-    telemetryRetriever.clearTelemetry();
+    if (telemetryRetriever != null) {
+      telemetryRetriever.clearTelemetry();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override