diff --git a/jps/model-serialization/src/org/jetbrains/jps/model/serialization/artifact/JpsArtifactSerializer.java b/jps/model-serialization/src/org/jetbrains/jps/model/serialization/artifact/JpsArtifactSerializer.java
index 02d23da995de..45828252b88b 100644
--- a/jps/model-serialization/src/org/jetbrains/jps/model/serialization/artifact/JpsArtifactSerializer.java
+++ b/jps/model-serialization/src/org/jetbrains/jps/model/serialization/artifact/JpsArtifactSerializer.java
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ public class JpsArtifactSerializer {
         }
       }
     }
-    return null;
+    return STANDARD_TYPE_SERIALIZERS[0];
   }
 
   private static JpsArtifactTypeSerializer getTypeSerializer(JpsArtifactType type) {