diff --git a/src/GitExtensions.AzureDevOpsCommitMessage/Plugin.cs b/src/GitExtensions.AzureDevOpsCommitMessage/Plugin.cs
index 56fcb93..734f922 100644
--- a/src/GitExtensions.AzureDevOpsCommitMessage/Plugin.cs
+++ b/src/GitExtensions.AzureDevOpsCommitMessage/Plugin.cs
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ public override void Unregister(IGitUICommands gitUiCommands)
 
         private void gitUiCommands_PreCommit(object sender, GitUIEventArgs e)
         {
-            if (!_enabledSettings.ValueOrDefault(Settings))
+            if (_httpClient == null || !_enabledSettings.ValueOrDefault(Settings))
             {
                 return;
             }