diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/completion/CompletionProgressIndicator.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/completion/CompletionProgressIndicator.java
index d754c0421ebf..6eb3c9f3bcaa 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/completion/CompletionProgressIndicator.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/completion/CompletionProgressIndicator.java
@@ -426,6 +426,7 @@ public class CompletionProgressIndicator extends ProgressIndicatorBase implement
   void addDelayedMiddleMatches() {
     ArrayList<CompletionResult> delayed;
     synchronized (myDelayedMiddleMatches) {
+      if (myDelayedMiddleMatches.isEmpty()) return;
       delayed = ContainerUtil.newArrayList(myDelayedMiddleMatches);
       myDelayedMiddleMatches.clear();
     }