diff --git a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/TabLabel.java b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/TabLabel.java
index 1eb815d938b8..c2f2956ccc50 100644
--- a/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/TabLabel.java
+++ b/platform/platform-api/src/com/intellij/ui/tabs/impl/TabLabel.java
@@ -237,7 +237,10 @@ public class TabLabel extends JPanel {
     setInactiveStateImage(null);
 
     myLabel.invalidate();
-    myActionPanel.invalidate();
+
+    if (myActionPanel != null) {
+      myActionPanel.invalidate();
+    }
 
     myTabs.revalidateAndRepaint(false);
   }