diff --git a/plugins/InspectionGadgets/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/LambdaCanBeMethodReferenceInspection.java b/plugins/InspectionGadgets/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/LambdaCanBeMethodReferenceInspection.java
index 98354a73719d..adc7e76c69f4 100644
--- a/plugins/InspectionGadgets/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/LambdaCanBeMethodReferenceInspection.java
+++ b/plugins/InspectionGadgets/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/LambdaCanBeMethodReferenceInspection.java
@@ -95,8 +95,14 @@ public class LambdaCanBeMethodReferenceInspection extends BaseJavaBatchLocalInsp
                                                                         ? ((PsiNewExpression)methodRefCandidate).getQualifier()
                                                                         : null;
               boolean safeQualifier = checkQualifier(qualifier);
-              ProblemHighlightType errorOrWarning = safeQualifier ? ProblemHighlightType.GENERIC_ERROR_OR_WARNING
-                                                                  : ProblemHighlightType.INFORMATION;
+              ProblemHighlightType errorOrWarning;
+              if (safeQualifier) {
+                errorOrWarning = ProblemHighlightType.GENERIC_ERROR_OR_WARNING;
+              }
+              else {
+                if (!isOnTheFly) return;
+                errorOrWarning = ProblemHighlightType.INFORMATION;
+              }
               holder.registerProblem(InspectionProjectProfileManager.isInformationLevel(getShortName(), expression) ? expression : candidate,
                                      "Can be replaced with method reference",
                                      errorOrWarning, new ReplaceWithMethodRefFix(safeQualifier ? "" : " (may change semantics)"));