diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/execution/ui/layout/impl/RunnerLayout.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/execution/ui/layout/impl/RunnerLayout.java
index af5287c2d703..908560f8844a 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/execution/ui/layout/impl/RunnerLayout.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/execution/ui/layout/impl/RunnerLayout.java
@@ -137,7 +137,10 @@ public class RunnerLayout  {
 
     for (TabImpl eachTab : myTabs) {
       if (isUsed(eachTab)) {
-        parentNode.addContent(XmlSerializer.serialize(eachTab));
+        Element element = XmlSerializer.serialize(eachTab);
+        if (element != null) {
+          parentNode.addContent(element);
+        }
       }
     }