diff --git a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/java15api/Java15APIUsageInspection.java b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/java15api/Java15APIUsageInspection.java
index 03656a3267f6..151b9471f876 100644
--- a/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/java15api/Java15APIUsageInspection.java
+++ b/java/java-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInspection/java15api/Java15APIUsageInspection.java
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ public class Java15APIUsageInspection extends BaseJavaLocalInspectionTool {
     }
 
     private void registerError(PsiJavaCodeReferenceElement reference, LanguageLevel api) {
-      if (isInProject(reference)) {
+      if (reference != null && isInProject(reference)) {
         myHolder.registerProblem(reference, InspectionsBundle.message("inspection.1.5.problem.descriptor", getPresentable(api)));
       }
     }