diff --git a/docs/changelog/94164.yaml b/docs/changelog/94164.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..b55e09225d7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/94164.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 94164
+summary: Avoid NPE in Stateless Get/mGet
+area: CRUD
+type: bug
+issues: []
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportGetAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportGetAction.java
index 8b78d9c4761b4..c08eec6dd3cc1 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportGetAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportGetAction.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ protected boolean resolveIndex(GetRequest request) {
 
     @Override
     protected ShardIterator shards(ClusterState state, InternalRequest request) {
-        ShardIterator shards = clusterService.operationRouting()
+        ShardIterator iterator = clusterService.operationRouting()
             .getShards(
                 clusterService.state(),
                 request.concreteIndex(),
@@ -79,15 +79,18 @@ protected ShardIterator shards(ClusterState state, InternalRequest request) {
                 request.request().routing(),
                 request.request().preference()
             );
+        if (iterator == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
         // If it is stateless, only route isPromotableToPrimary shards. This is a temporary workaround until a more cohesive solution can be
         // implemented for search shards.
         if (DiscoveryNode.isStateless(clusterService.getSettings())) {
             return new PlainShardIterator(
-                shards.shardId(),
-                shards.getShardRoutings().stream().filter(ShardRouting::isPromotableToPrimary).collect(Collectors.toList())
+                iterator.shardId(),
+                iterator.getShardRoutings().stream().filter(ShardRouting::isPromotableToPrimary).collect(Collectors.toList())
             );
         } else {
-            return shards;
+            return iterator;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportShardMultiGetAction.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportShardMultiGetAction.java
index ea7535efe77d6..a173ff4407968 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportShardMultiGetAction.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/get/TransportShardMultiGetAction.java
@@ -85,17 +85,20 @@ protected boolean resolveIndex(MultiGetShardRequest request) {
 
     @Override
     protected ShardIterator shards(ClusterState state, InternalRequest request) {
-        ShardIterator shards = clusterService.operationRouting()
+        ShardIterator iterator = clusterService.operationRouting()
             .getShards(state, request.request().index(), request.request().shardId(), request.request().preference());
+        if (iterator == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
         // If it is stateless, only route promotable shards. This is a temporary workaround until a more cohesive solution can be
         // implemented for search shards.
         if (DiscoveryNode.isStateless(clusterService.getSettings())) {
             return new PlainShardIterator(
-                shards.shardId(),
-                shards.getShardRoutings().stream().filter(ShardRouting::isPromotableToPrimary).collect(Collectors.toList())
+                iterator.shardId(),
+                iterator.getShardRoutings().stream().filter(ShardRouting::isPromotableToPrimary).collect(Collectors.toList())
             );
         } else {
-            return shards;
+            return iterator;
         }
     }