diff --git a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/lookup/impl/LookupImpl.java b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/lookup/impl/LookupImpl.java
index d999251e84db..5b7eba787f0d 100644
--- a/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/lookup/impl/LookupImpl.java
+++ b/platform/lang-impl/src/com/intellij/codeInsight/lookup/impl/LookupImpl.java
@@ -546,6 +546,8 @@ public class LookupImpl extends LightweightHint implements Lookup, Disposable {
   }
 
   private boolean prefixMatches(final LookupElement item) {
+    if (!item.isValid()) return false;
+
     if (myAdditionalPrefix.length() == 0) return item.isPrefixMatched();
 
     return item.getPrefixMatcher().cloneWithPrefix(itemPrefix(item)).prefixMatches(item);