diff --git a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/deadCode/UnusedDeclarationInspection.java b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/deadCode/UnusedDeclarationInspection.java
index 5a00b75a97f0..7a1b3d99a552 100644
--- a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/deadCode/UnusedDeclarationInspection.java
+++ b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/deadCode/UnusedDeclarationInspection.java
@@ -373,6 +373,7 @@ public class UnusedDeclarationInspection extends FilteringInspectionTool {
 
             @Override public void visitClass(RefClass aClass) {
               final PsiClass psiClass = aClass.getElement();
+              if (psiClass == null) return;
               if (
                 isAddAppletEnabled() && aClass.isApplet() ||
                 isAddServletEnabled() && aClass.isServlet()) {