diff --git a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
index 3c65af2..49c89d8 100644
--- a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
+++ b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/security/PKIAuthenticationPlugin.java
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@
   }
 
   PublicKey getRemotePublicKey(String nodename) {
+    if (!cores.getZkController().getZkStateReader().getClusterState().getLiveNodes().contains(nodename)) return null;
     String url = cores.getZkController().getZkStateReader().getBaseUrlForNodeName(nodename);
     try {
       String uri = url + PATH + "?wt=json&omitHeader=true";