diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/welcomeScreen/recentProjects/RecentProjectFilteringTree.kt b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/welcomeScreen/recentProjects/RecentProjectFilteringTree.kt
index 7f7cf1220ea6..87a4dd89cbb6 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/welcomeScreen/recentProjects/RecentProjectFilteringTree.kt
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/wm/impl/welcomeScreen/recentProjects/RecentProjectFilteringTree.kt
@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ class RecentProjectFilteringTree(
       return true
     }
 
+    if (root.childCount <= 0) {
+      return false
+    }
     val firstChild = root.firstChild
     if (firstChild != null) {
       TreeUtil.selectNode(tree, firstChild)