diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/daemon/impl/UpdateHighlightersUtil.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/daemon/impl/UpdateHighlightersUtil.java
index 06cb28e0759e..43e76cda606e 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/daemon/impl/UpdateHighlightersUtil.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/daemon/impl/UpdateHighlightersUtil.java
@@ -135,7 +135,9 @@ public class UpdateHighlightersUtil {
     };
 
     void recycleHighlighter(RangeHighlighter highlighter) {
-      incinerator.putValue(ProperTextRange.create(highlighter), highlighter);
+      if (highlighter.isValid()) {
+        incinerator.putValue(ProperTextRange.create(highlighter), highlighter);
+      }
     }
 
     RangeHighlighter pickupHighlighterFromGarbageBin(int startOffset, int endOffset, int layer){