diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/lang/CompoundRuntimeException.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/lang/CompoundRuntimeException.java
index caf014b8d5f3..7d7ecb1442a2 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/lang/CompoundRuntimeException.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/lang/CompoundRuntimeException.java
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ public class CompoundRuntimeException extends RuntimeException {
     myExceptions = throwables;
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public synchronized Throwable getCause() {
+    return ContainerUtil.getFirstItem(myExceptions);
+  }
+
   public List<Throwable> getExceptions() {
     return myExceptions;
   }