Java NullPointerException for null condition check

I have a very basic method as part of the binary search tree. If the current binary node has a correct child node, it only returns true. If the child node on the right points to null, it returns false

public boolean hasRight(){
    if(right.element != null){
        return true;
    }else{
        return false;
    }

But whenever I test this code, I know that I will reach a node without the correct child node, and I want my code to only return false, then Java will throw a NullPointerException at this line

if(right.element != null)

Instead of returning false as I expected

Edit:

Fixed my code, just check if you are null before trying to get the correct element

public boolean hasRight(){
    if(right != null){
        return true;
    }else{
        return false;
    }
}

Solution

The right itself is empty Check it before attempting to access it

if (right != null && right.element != null){