diff --git a/library/src/main/java/com/pchmn/materialchips/adapter/FilterableAdapter.java b/library/src/main/java/com/pchmn/materialchips/adapter/FilterableAdapter.java
index b5d8903b..50b83cdb 100644
--- a/library/src/main/java/com/pchmn/materialchips/adapter/FilterableAdapter.java
+++ b/library/src/main/java/com/pchmn/materialchips/adapter/FilterableAdapter.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import android.widget.Filter;
 import android.widget.Filterable;
 import android.widget.TextView;
+import android.widget.Toast;
 
 import com.pchmn.materialchips.ChipsInput;
 import com.pchmn.materialchips.R;
@@ -58,17 +59,23 @@ public FilterableAdapter(Context context,
                              ColorStateList textColor) {
         mContext = context;
         mRecyclerView = recyclerView;
-        Collections.sort(chipList, new Comparator<ChipInterface>() {
-            @Override
-            public int compare(ChipInterface o1, ChipInterface o2) {
-                Collator collator = Collator.getInstance(Locale.getDefault());
-                collator.setStrength(Collator.PRIMARY);
-                return collator.compare(o1.getLabel(), o2.getLabel());
-            }
-        });
-        mOriginalList.addAll(chipList);
-        mChipList.addAll(chipList);
-        mFilteredList.addAll(chipList);
+        if(chipList == null) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "The filterable list is null");
+            Toast.makeText(context, "The filterable list is null", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
+        }
+        else {
+            Collections.sort(chipList, new Comparator<ChipInterface>() {
+                @Override
+                public int compare(ChipInterface o1, ChipInterface o2) {
+                    Collator collator = Collator.getInstance(Locale.getDefault());
+                    collator.setStrength(Collator.PRIMARY);
+                    return collator.compare(o1.getLabel(), o2.getLabel());
+                }
+            });
+            mOriginalList.addAll(chipList);
+            mChipList.addAll(chipList);
+            mFilteredList.addAll(chipList);
+        }
         mLetterTileProvider = new LetterTileProvider(mContext);
         mBackgroundColor = backgroundColor;
         mTextColor = textColor;
diff --git a/sample/src/main/java/com/pchmn/sample/materialchipsinput/ContactListActivity.java b/sample/src/main/java/com/pchmn/sample/materialchipsinput/ContactListActivity.java
index 3dc06d1e..a6b7ee14 100644
--- a/sample/src/main/java/com/pchmn/sample/materialchipsinput/ContactListActivity.java
+++ b/sample/src/main/java/com/pchmn/sample/materialchipsinput/ContactListActivity.java
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class ContactListActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
     @BindView(R.id.chips_input) ChipsInput mChipsInput;
     @BindView(R.id.validate) Button mValidateButton;
     @BindView(R.id.chip_list) TextView mChipListText;
-    private List<ContactChip> mContactList = new ArrayList<>();
+    private List<ContactChip> mContactList;
 
     @Override
     protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
         setContentView(R.layout.activity_contact_list);
         // butter knife
         ButterKnife.bind(this);
+        mContactList = new ArrayList<>();
 
         // get contact list
         new RxPermissions(this)