diff --git a/java/java-tests/testData/inspection/patternVariableCanBeUsed/beforeIncomplete.java b/java/java-tests/testData/inspection/patternVariableCanBeUsed/beforeIncomplete.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7d4bb82b9223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/java-tests/testData/inspection/patternVariableCanBeUsed/beforeIncomplete.java
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// "Fix all 'Pattern variable can be used' problems in file" "false"
+class X {
+  void test(Object obj) {
+    if() {
+      String <caret>s = (String) obj;
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/plugins/InspectionGadgets/InspectionGadgetsAnalysis/src/com/siyeh/ig/psiutils/InstanceOfUtils.java b/plugins/InspectionGadgets/InspectionGadgetsAnalysis/src/com/siyeh/ig/psiutils/InstanceOfUtils.java
index ceea98230266..bc8d78db01bc 100644
--- a/plugins/InspectionGadgets/InspectionGadgetsAnalysis/src/com/siyeh/ig/psiutils/InstanceOfUtils.java
+++ b/plugins/InspectionGadgets/InspectionGadgetsAnalysis/src/com/siyeh/ig/psiutils/InstanceOfUtils.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.intellij.psi.util.PsiTreeUtil;
 import com.intellij.psi.util.PsiUtil;
 import com.intellij.util.ObjectUtils;
 import com.intellij.util.containers.ContainerUtil;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Contract;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
@@ -278,7 +279,11 @@ public class InstanceOfUtils {
     return startOffset != -1 && endOffset != -1 && ControlFlowUtil.canCompleteNormally(flow, startOffset, endOffset);
   }
 
-  private static PsiInstanceOfExpression findInstanceOf(PsiExpression condition, PsiTypeCastExpression cast, boolean whenTrue) {
+  @Contract("null, _, _ -> null")
+  private static PsiInstanceOfExpression findInstanceOf(@Nullable PsiExpression condition, 
+                                                        @NotNull PsiTypeCastExpression cast, 
+                                                        boolean whenTrue) {
+    if (condition == null) return null;
     if (condition instanceof PsiParenthesizedExpression) {
       return findInstanceOf(((PsiParenthesizedExpression)condition).getExpression(), cast, whenTrue);
     }