diff --git a/java/execution/impl/src/com/intellij/execution/junit/JUnitUtil.java b/java/execution/impl/src/com/intellij/execution/junit/JUnitUtil.java
index 77878a2fae70..02010166786f 100644
--- a/java/execution/impl/src/com/intellij/execution/junit/JUnitUtil.java
+++ b/java/execution/impl/src/com/intellij/execution/junit/JUnitUtil.java
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ public class JUnitUtil {
         }
 
         //default runners do not implicitly run inner classes
-        if (!isRunnerWithRequiredAnnotationOnTestMethod(annotation, KNOWN_RUNNERS)) {
+        if (annotation != null && !isRunnerWithRequiredAnnotationOnTestMethod(annotation, KNOWN_RUNNERS)) {
           return true;
         }
       }