diff --git a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Server.java b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Server.java
index 272cc8167..8a1b2cfb2 100644
--- a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Server.java
+++ b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/Server.java
@@ -103,6 +103,12 @@ public interface Server
      */
     public Collection<HostedConnection> getConnections(); 
  
+    /**
+     *  Returns true if the server has active connections at the time of this
+     *  call.
+     */
+    public boolean hasConnections();
+    
     /**
      *  Adds a listener that will be notified when new hosted connections
      *  arrive.
diff --git a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultServer.java b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultServer.java
index 2b0a7ec98..a2ddd2c43 100644
--- a/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultServer.java
+++ b/engine/src/networking/com/jme3/network/base/DefaultServer.java
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ public class DefaultServer implements Server
 
     public void broadcast( Filter<? super HostedConnection> filter, Message message )
     {
+        if( connections.isEmpty() )
+            return;
+            
         ByteBuffer buffer = MessageProtocol.messageToBuffer(message, null);
  
         FilterAdapter adapter = filter == null ? null : new FilterAdapter(filter);
@@ -172,6 +175,11 @@ public class DefaultServer implements Server
         return connections.get(id);
     }     
  
+    public boolean hasConnections()
+    {
+        return !connections.isEmpty();
+    }
+ 
     public Collection<HostedConnection> getConnections()
     {
         return Collections.unmodifiableCollection((Collection<HostedConnection>)connections.values());