diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/projectView/impl/nodes/ProjectViewDirectoryHelper.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/projectView/impl/nodes/ProjectViewDirectoryHelper.java
index 45d8f38e6d15..4197e15f0feb 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/projectView/impl/nodes/ProjectViewDirectoryHelper.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/ide/projectView/impl/nodes/ProjectViewDirectoryHelper.java
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ public class ProjectViewDirectoryHelper {
   }
 
 
-  private static boolean isFileUnderContentRoot(DirectoryIndex index, VirtualFile file) {
-    return index.getInfoForFile(file).getContentRoot() != null;
+  private static boolean isFileUnderContentRoot(DirectoryIndex index, @Nullable VirtualFile file) {
+    return file != null && index.getInfoForFile(file).getContentRoot() != null;
   }
 
   private PsiElement[] directoryChildrenInProject(PsiDirectory psiDirectory, final ViewSettings settings) {