diff --git a/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/impl/NewProjectUtil.java b/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/impl/NewProjectUtil.java
index d15081bd4a44..3fd89d63820d 100644
--- a/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/impl/NewProjectUtil.java
+++ b/java/idea-ui/src/com/intellij/ide/impl/NewProjectUtil.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.intellij.openapi.application.ApplicationManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.application.ModalityState;
 import com.intellij.openapi.command.CommandProcessor;
 import com.intellij.openapi.components.StorageScheme;
+import com.intellij.openapi.diagnostic.Logger;
 import com.intellij.openapi.progress.ProgressManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.ProjectBundle;
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ public class NewProjectUtil {
 
     try {
       File projectDir = new File(projectFilePath).getParentFile();
+      LOG.assertTrue(projectDir != null, "Cannot create project in '" + projectFilePath + "': no parent file exists");
       FileUtil.ensureExists(projectDir);
       if (StorageScheme.DIRECTORY_BASED == dialog.getStorageScheme()) {
         final File ideaDir = new File(projectFilePath, Project.DIRECTORY_STORE_FOLDER);
@@ -245,4 +247,6 @@ public class NewProjectUtil {
       }
     }
   }
+
+  private final static Logger LOG = Logger.getInstance(NewProjectUtil.class);
 }
diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/openapi/util/io/FileUtil.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/openapi/util/io/FileUtil.java
index 1a5ea96121b8..863766ce8ff7 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/openapi/util/io/FileUtil.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/openapi/util/io/FileUtil.java
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ public class FileUtil extends FileUtilRt {
     }
   }
 
-  public static void ensureExists(File dir) throws IOException {
+  public static void ensureExists(@NotNull File dir) throws IOException {
     if (!dir.exists() && !dir.mkdirs()) {
       throw new IOException(CommonBundle.message("exception.directory.can.not.create", dir.getPath()));
     }