diff --git a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/controlFlow/ControlFlowUtil.java b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/controlFlow/ControlFlowUtil.java
index 1966ae558441..0e6ed1625d67 100644
--- a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/controlFlow/ControlFlowUtil.java
+++ b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/controlFlow/ControlFlowUtil.java
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ public class ControlFlowUtil {
 
   public static List<PsiVariable> getUsedVariables(ControlFlow flow, int start, int end) {
     ArrayList<PsiVariable> array = new ArrayList<PsiVariable>();
+    if (start < 0) return array;
     List<Instruction> instructions = flow.getInstructions();
     for (int i = start; i < end; i++) {
       Instruction instruction = instructions.get(i);