diff --git a/plugins/ui-designer/src/com/intellij/uiDesigner/designSurface/DesignDropTargetListener.java b/plugins/ui-designer/src/com/intellij/uiDesigner/designSurface/DesignDropTargetListener.java
index 7e1c548f8c49..d96eac097f48 100644
--- a/plugins/ui-designer/src/com/intellij/uiDesigner/designSurface/DesignDropTargetListener.java
+++ b/plugins/ui-designer/src/com/intellij/uiDesigner/designSurface/DesignDropTargetListener.java
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ class DesignDropTargetListener implements DropTargetListener {
 
   public void dragExit(DropTargetEvent dte) {
     try {
-      myComponentTree.setDropTargetComponent(null);
+      if (myComponentTree != null) {
+        myComponentTree.setDropTargetComponent(null);
+      }
       myUseDragDelta = false;
       if (myDraggedComponentList != null) {
         cancelDrag();