diff --git a/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/utility/MinecraftVersion.java b/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/utility/MinecraftVersion.java
index ec58dd84..ee4c6efb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/utility/MinecraftVersion.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/utility/MinecraftVersion.java
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ public final class MinecraftVersion implements Comparable<MinecraftVersion>, Ser
 	 * Version 1.17 - caves and cliffs part 1
 	 */
 	public static final MinecraftVersion CAVES_CLIFFS_1 = new MinecraftVersion("1.17");
+	/**
+	 * Version 1.16.4
+	 */
+	public static final MinecraftVersion NETHER_UPDATE_4 = new MinecraftVersion("1.16.4");
 	/**
 	 * Version 1.16.2 - breaking change to the nether update
 	 */
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/wrappers/BukkitConverters.java b/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/wrappers/BukkitConverters.java
index 73bbac01..5c896d05 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/wrappers/BukkitConverters.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/comphenix/protocol/wrappers/BukkitConverters.java
@@ -1083,19 +1083,19 @@ public class BukkitConverters {
 		});
 	}
 
-	private static MethodAccessor getSound = null;
-	private static MethodAccessor getSoundEffect = null;
-	private static FieldAccessor soundKey = null;
+	static MethodAccessor getSound = null;
+	static MethodAccessor getSoundEffect = null;
+	static FieldAccessor soundKey = null;
 
-	private static MethodAccessor getSoundEffectByKey = null;
-	private static MethodAccessor getSoundEffectBySound = null;
-	private static MethodAccessor getSoundByEffect = null;
+	static MethodAccessor getSoundEffectByKey = null;
+	static MethodAccessor getSoundEffectBySound = null;
+	static MethodAccessor getSoundByEffect = null;
 
-	private static Map<String, Sound> soundIndex = null;
+	static Map<String, Sound> soundIndex = null;
 
 	public static EquivalentConverter<Sound> getSoundConverter() {
 		// Try to create sound converter for new versions greater 1.16.4
-		try {
+		if (MinecraftVersion.NETHER_UPDATE_4.atOrAbove()) {
 			if (getSoundEffectByKey == null || getSoundEffectBySound == null || getSoundByEffect == null) {
 				Class<?> craftSound = MinecraftReflection.getCraftSoundClass();
 				FuzzyReflection fuzzy = FuzzyReflection.fromClass(craftSound, true);
@@ -1103,19 +1103,19 @@ public class BukkitConverters {
 				getSoundEffectByKey = Accessors.getMethodAccessor(fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters(
 						"getSoundEffect",
 						MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass(),
-						new Class<?>[]{String.class}
+						String.class
 				));
 
 				getSoundEffectBySound = Accessors.getMethodAccessor(fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters(
 						"getSoundEffect",
 						MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass(),
-						new Class<?>[]{Sound.class}
+						Sound.class
 				));
 
 				getSoundByEffect = Accessors.getMethodAccessor(fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters(
 						"getBukkit",
 						Sound.class,
-						new Class<?>[]{MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass()}
+						MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass()
 				));
 			}
 
@@ -1133,10 +1133,17 @@ public class BukkitConverters {
 
 				@Override
 				public Sound getSpecific(Object generic) {
-					return (Sound) getSoundByEffect.invoke(null, generic);
+					try {
+						return (Sound) getSoundByEffect.invoke(null, generic);
+					} catch (IllegalStateException ex) {
+						if (ex.getCause() instanceof NullPointerException) {
+							// "null" sounds cause NPEs inside getSoundByEffect
+							return null;
+						}
+						throw ex;
+					}
 				}
 			});
-		} catch (Exception e) {
 		}
 
 		// Fall back to sound converter from legacy versions before 1.16.4
@@ -1144,9 +1151,9 @@ public class BukkitConverters {
 			Class<?> craftSound = MinecraftReflection.getCraftSoundClass();
 			FuzzyReflection fuzzy = FuzzyReflection.fromClass(craftSound, true);
 			getSound = Accessors.getMethodAccessor(
-					fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters("getSound", String.class, new Class<?>[]{Sound.class}));
+					fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters("getSound", String.class, Sound.class));
 			getSoundEffect = Accessors.getMethodAccessor(fuzzy.getMethodByReturnTypeAndParameters("getSoundEffect",
-					MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass(), new Class<?>[]{String.class}));
+					MinecraftReflection.getSoundEffectClass(), String.class));
 		}
 
 		return ignoreNull(new EquivalentConverter<Sound>() {
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/comphenix/protocol/events/PacketContainerTest.java b/src/test/java/com/comphenix/protocol/events/PacketContainerTest.java
index 13233b8a..9cf86978 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/comphenix/protocol/events/PacketContainerTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/comphenix/protocol/events/PacketContainerTest.java
@@ -570,6 +570,8 @@ public class PacketContainerTest {
 	@Test
 	public void testSoundEffects() {
 		PacketContainer container = new PacketContainer(PacketType.Play.Server.NAMED_SOUND_EFFECT);
+		container.getSoundEffects().optionRead(0);
+
 		container.getSoundEffects().write(0, Sound.ENTITY_CAT_HISS);
 
 		assertEquals(container.getSoundEffects().read(0), Sound.ENTITY_CAT_HISS);