diff --git a/libraries/core_libs/network/include/network/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.hpp b/libraries/core_libs/network/include/network/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.hpp
index d205ec2470..dd38d286fa 100644
--- a/libraries/core_libs/network/include/network/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.hpp
+++ b/libraries/core_libs/network/include/network/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.hpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class TransactionPacketHandler final : public PacketHandler {
    * @param transactions serialized transactions
    *
    */
-  void sendTransactions(std::shared_ptr<TaraxaPeer> const& peer,
+  void sendTransactions(std::shared_ptr<TaraxaPeer> peer,
                         std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Transaction>>&& transactions);
 
   /**
diff --git a/libraries/core_libs/network/src/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.cpp b/libraries/core_libs/network/src/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.cpp
index 0b7d5387fc..d106786a85 100644
--- a/libraries/core_libs/network/src/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.cpp
+++ b/libraries/core_libs/network/src/tarcap/packets_handlers/transaction_packet_handler.cpp
@@ -159,8 +159,9 @@ void TransactionPacketHandler::periodicSendTransactions(SharedTransactions &&tra
   }
 }
 
-void TransactionPacketHandler::sendTransactions(std::shared_ptr<TaraxaPeer> const &peer,
+void TransactionPacketHandler::sendTransactions(std::shared_ptr<TaraxaPeer> peer,
                                                 std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Transaction>> &&transactions) {
+  if (!peer) return;
   const auto peer_id = peer->getId();
   LOG(log_tr_) << "sendTransactions " << transactions.size() << " to " << peer_id;
 
diff --git a/tests/network_test.cpp b/tests/network_test.cpp
index efc4b92f99..4807599669 100644
--- a/tests/network_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/network_test.cpp
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ TEST_F(NetworkTest, transfer_transaction) {
   nw1->start();
   nw2->start();
 
-  EXPECT_HAPPENS({10s, 200ms}, [&](auto& ctx) {
+  EXPECT_HAPPENS({20s, 100ms}, [&](auto& ctx) {
     nw1->setPendingPeersToReady();
     nw2->setPendingPeersToReady();
     WAIT_EXPECT_EQ(ctx, nw1->getPeerCount(), 1)
@@ -336,15 +336,18 @@ TEST_F(NetworkTest, transfer_transaction) {
 
   auto nw1_nodeid = nw1->getNodeId();
   auto nw2_nodeid = nw2->getNodeId();
-  EXPECT_NE(nw1->getPeer(nw2_nodeid), nullptr);
-  EXPECT_NE(nw2->getPeer(nw1_nodeid), nullptr);
+
+  const auto peer2 = nw1->getPeer(nw2_nodeid);
+  const auto peer1 = nw2->getPeer(nw1_nodeid);
+  EXPECT_NE(peer2, nullptr);
+  EXPECT_NE(peer1, nullptr);
 
   SharedTransactions transactions;
   transactions.push_back(g_signed_trx_samples[0]);
   transactions.push_back(g_signed_trx_samples[1]);
   transactions.push_back(g_signed_trx_samples[2]);
 
-  nw2->getSpecificHandler<network::tarcap::TransactionPacketHandler>()->sendTransactions(nw2->getPeer(nw1_nodeid),
+  nw2->getSpecificHandler<network::tarcap::TransactionPacketHandler>()->sendTransactions(peer1,
                                                                                          std::move(transactions));
 
   EXPECT_HAPPENS({2s, 200ms}, [&](auto& ctx) { WAIT_EXPECT_EQ(ctx, nw1->getReceivedTransactionsCount(), 3) });