diff --git a/platform/lang-api/src/com/intellij/navigation/NavigationItemFileStatus.java b/platform/lang-api/src/com/intellij/navigation/NavigationItemFileStatus.java
index 1c963dcff7db..0661f61af7dd 100644
--- a/platform/lang-api/src/com/intellij/navigation/NavigationItemFileStatus.java
+++ b/platform/lang-api/src/com/intellij/navigation/NavigationItemFileStatus.java
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public class NavigationItemFileStatus {
     }
     if (item instanceof PsiElementNavigationItem) {
       PsiElement target = ((PsiElementNavigationItem) item).getTargetElement();
-      return getPsiElementFileStatus(target);
+      if (target != null) return getPsiElementFileStatus(target);
     }
     return FileStatus.NOT_CHANGED;
   }