diff --git a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/editor/PythonBackspaceHandler.java b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/editor/PythonBackspaceHandler.java
index e542b001cb22..8b83e8111923 100644
--- a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/editor/PythonBackspaceHandler.java
+++ b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/editor/PythonBackspaceHandler.java
@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ public class PythonBackspaceHandler extends BackspaceHandlerDelegate {
       final int offset = editor.getCaretModel().getOffset();
       if (EditorModificationUtil.calcAfterLineEnd(editor) == 0) {
         int delta = editor.getCaretModel().getVisualPosition().column - myTargetPosition.column;
-        editor.getSelectionModel().setSelection(offset - delta, offset);
-        EditorModificationUtil.deleteSelectedText(editor);
+        assert delta >= 0;
+        if (offset <= editor.getDocument().getTextLength()) {
+          editor.getSelectionModel().setSelection(offset - delta, offset);
+          EditorModificationUtil.deleteSelectedText(editor);
+        }
       }
       editor.getCaretModel().moveToLogicalPosition(myTargetPosition);
       myTargetPosition = null;