diff --git a/java/compiler/impl/src/com/intellij/compiler/impl/CompileDriver.java b/java/compiler/impl/src/com/intellij/compiler/impl/CompileDriver.java
index 6e6bd9102279..a83e0cf79c4b 100644
--- a/java/compiler/impl/src/com/intellij/compiler/impl/CompileDriver.java
+++ b/java/compiler/impl/src/com/intellij/compiler/impl/CompileDriver.java
@@ -2378,7 +2378,9 @@ public class CompileDriver {
     final boolean justCreated = file.mkdirs();
     vFile = lfs.refreshAndFindFileByIoFile(file);
 
-    assert vFile != null: "Virtual file not found for " + file.getPath() + "; mkdirs() exit code is " + justCreated;
+    if (vFile == null) {
+      assert false: "Virtual file not found for " + file.getPath() + "; mkdirs() exit code is " + justCreated + "; file exists()? " + file.exists();
+    }
 
     return vFile;
   }