diff --git a/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java b/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
index 533e8c96bc36..d4fe4b873ad9 100644
--- a/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
+++ b/python/pydevSrc/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/pydev/ProtocolParser.java
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ public class ProtocolParser {
 
     final String name = readString(reader, "name", null);
     final String type = readString(reader, "type", null);
-    final String qualifier = readString(reader, "qualifier", null); //to be able to get the fully qualified type if necessary
+    final String qualifier = readString(reader, "qualifier", ""); //to be able to get the fully qualified type if necessary
 
     String value = readString(reader, "value", null);
     final String isContainer = readString(reader, "isContainer", "");