diff --git a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/rename/LocalHidesRenamedLocalUsageInfo.java b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/rename/LocalHidesRenamedLocalUsageInfo.java
index 62ec0ecd036d..f2aa46ad6bd7 100644
--- a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/rename/LocalHidesRenamedLocalUsageInfo.java
+++ b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/refactoring/rename/LocalHidesRenamedLocalUsageInfo.java
@@ -40,9 +40,11 @@ public class LocalHidesRenamedLocalUsageInfo extends UnresolvableCollisionUsageI
 
   public String getDescription() {
 
+    PsiElement element = getElement();
+    String type = element == null ? "element" : UsageViewUtil.getType(element);
     final String descr = RefactoringBundle.message("there.is.already.a.0.it.will.conflict.with.the.renamed.1",
                                                    RefactoringUIUtil.getDescription(myConflictingElement, true),
-                                                   UsageViewUtil.getType(getElement()));
+                                                   type);
     return CommonRefactoringUtil.capitalize(descr);
   }
 }