diff --git a/capsulflask/spoke_model.py b/capsulflask/spoke_model.py
index 785e8de..ae437c0 100644
--- a/capsulflask/spoke_model.py
+++ b/capsulflask/spoke_model.py
@@ -83,9 +83,10 @@ class ShellScriptSpoke(VirtualizationInterface):
     completedProcess = run([join(current_app.root_path, 'shell_scripts/get.sh'), id], capture_output=True)
     self.validate_completed_process(completedProcess)
     lines = completedProcess.stdout.splitlines()
-    ipaddr = lines[0].decode("utf-8")
     if len(lines) == 0:
       return None
+      
+    ipaddr = lines[0].decode("utf-8")
 
     if not re.match(r"^([0-9]{1,3}\.){3}[0-9]{1,3}$", ipaddr):
       return None