diff --git a/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/VirtualFile.java b/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/VirtualFile.java
index 915aa74d266b..e44e3f98874f 100644
--- a/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/VirtualFile.java
+++ b/platform/core-api/src/com/intellij/openapi/vfs/VirtualFile.java
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ public abstract class VirtualFile extends UserDataHolderBase implements Modifica
    */
   @Nullable
   public String getCanonicalPath() {
-    return null;
+    return getPath();
   }
 
   /**