diff --git a/java/java-structure-view/src/com/intellij/ide/structureView/impl/java/JavaClassTreeElementBase.java b/java/java-structure-view/src/com/intellij/ide/structureView/impl/java/JavaClassTreeElementBase.java
index 4e46dfb14fce..702e0d803635 100644
--- a/java/java-structure-view/src/com/intellij/ide/structureView/impl/java/JavaClassTreeElementBase.java
+++ b/java/java-structure-view/src/com/intellij/ide/structureView/impl/java/JavaClassTreeElementBase.java
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ public abstract class JavaClassTreeElementBase<Value extends PsiElement> extends
 
   @Override
   public int getAccessLevel() {
-    final PsiModifierList modifierList = ((PsiModifierListOwner)getElement()).getModifierList();
+    Value element = getElement();
+    if (!(element instanceof PsiModifierListOwner)) return PsiUtil.ACCESS_LEVEL_PUBLIC;
+    final PsiModifierList modifierList = ((PsiModifierListOwner)element).getModifierList();
     if (modifierList == null) {
       return PsiUtil.ACCESS_LEVEL_PUBLIC;
     }