diff --git a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
index f42eb037f..9c715b72b 100644
--- a/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
+++ b/Assets/Mirror/Runtime/NetworkServer.cs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public static class NetworkServer
         public static float disconnectInactiveTimeout = 60f;
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// cache the Send(connectionIds) list to avoid allocating each time 
+        /// cache the Send(connectionIds) list to avoid allocating each time
         /// </summary>
         static readonly List<int> connectionIdsCache = new List<int>();
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ public static bool RemoveConnection(int connectionId)
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// called by LocalClient to add itself. dont call directly. 
+        /// called by LocalClient to add itself. dont call directly.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="conn"></param>
         internal static void SetLocalConnection(ULocalConnectionToClient conn)
@@ -514,16 +514,23 @@ public static void Update()
             // update all server objects
             foreach (KeyValuePair<uint, NetworkIdentity> kvp in NetworkIdentity.spawned)
             {
-                NetworkIdentity identity = kvp.Value;
-                if (identity != null)
+                // try to update.
+                // spawned might have null entries if the user made a mistake.
+                //
+                // IMPORTANT: do not check kvp.Value != null. this is way too
+                //            costly due to Unity's custom null check
+                //            instead, catch the exception if it happens.
+                //            (see 4k benchmark).
+                try
                 {
-                    identity.ServerUpdate();
+                    kvp.Value.ServerUpdate();
                 }
-                else
+                // spawned list should have no null entries because we
+                // always call Remove in OnObjectDestroy everywhere.
+                // but if it does, we should let the user know how it happens
+                catch (NullReferenceException)
                 {
-                    // spawned list should have no null entries because we
-                    // always call Remove in OnObjectDestroy everywhere.
-                    logger.LogWarning("Found 'null' entry in spawned list for netId=" + kvp.Key + ". Please call NetworkServer.Destroy to destroy networked objects. Don't use GameObject.Destroy.");
+                    Debug.LogWarning("Found 'null' entry in spawned list for netId=" + kvp.Key + ". Please call NetworkServer.Destroy to destroy networked objects. Don't use GameObject.Destroy.");
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -971,7 +978,7 @@ public static void SetClientNotReady(NetworkConnection conn)
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// default ready handler. 
+        /// default ready handler.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="conn"></param>
         /// <param name="msg"></param>