diff --git a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/source/tree/java/PsiMethodReferenceExpressionImpl.java b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/source/tree/java/PsiMethodReferenceExpressionImpl.java
index efd00304c941..45e036d7b2a6 100644
--- a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/source/tree/java/PsiMethodReferenceExpressionImpl.java
+++ b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/source/tree/java/PsiMethodReferenceExpressionImpl.java
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ public class PsiMethodReferenceExpressionImpl extends PsiReferenceExpressionBase
               }
               final boolean innerClassOuterClassReference = containingClass.getContainingClass() != null && !containingClass.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.STATIC);
               ClassCandidateInfo candidateInfo = null;
-              if (!isLocatedInStaticContext(containingClass) && parameterTypes.length == 0 || hasReceiver && innerClassOuterClassReference) {
+              if ((containingClass.getContainingClass() == null || !isLocatedInStaticContext(containingClass)) && parameterTypes.length == 0 || hasReceiver && innerClassOuterClassReference) {
                 candidateInfo = new ClassCandidateInfo(containingClass, substitutor);
               }
               return candidateInfo == null ? JavaResolveResult.EMPTY_ARRAY : new JavaResolveResult[]{candidateInfo};