diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/NodeContainer.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/NodeContainer.java
index 5d60c082c4e..cb310ec317d 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/NodeContainer.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/NodeContainer.java
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ public class NodeContainer {
 		}
 
 		public boolean isDeclarationInScope() {
-			if(declaration.toCharArray().length > 0) {
+			if(declaration != null && declaration.toCharArray().length > 0) {
 				int declOffset = declaration.getFileLocation().getNodeOffset();
 				return declOffset >= getStartOffset()
 				&& declOffset <= getEndOffset();