diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/settings/NodeRendererSettings.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/settings/NodeRendererSettings.java
index 308988f96d95..300a2ef356b4 100644
--- a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/settings/NodeRendererSettings.java
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/settings/NodeRendererSettings.java
@@ -478,6 +478,7 @@ public class NodeRendererSettings implements PersistentStateComponent<Element> {
         descriptor.putUserData(key, evalDescriptor);
         return evalDescriptor.getValueLabel();
       }
+      descriptor.putUserData(key, null);
       return "null";
     }