diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/tools/SimpleActionGroup.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/tools/SimpleActionGroup.java
index 9ac3f5d9bc04..97a418e1a6c1 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/tools/SimpleActionGroup.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/tools/SimpleActionGroup.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public class SimpleActionGroup extends ActionGroup {
 
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+    if (myChildren.isEmpty()) return super.equals(obj);
     return obj instanceof SimpleActionGroup && myChildren.equals(((SimpleActionGroup)obj).myChildren);
   }