diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.telnet/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/subsystems/shells/telnet/TelnetServiceCommandShell.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.telnet/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/subsystems/shells/telnet/TelnetServiceCommandShell.java
index 2772dd75939..4f6f7a61e7e 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.telnet/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/subsystems/shells/telnet/TelnetServiceCommandShell.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.telnet/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/subsystems/shells/telnet/TelnetServiceCommandShell.java
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class TelnetServiceCommandShell extends ServiceCommandShell {
 	public Object getContext()
 	{
 		String workingDir = _workingDir;
-		if (workingDir != null && workingDir.length() > 0)
+		if (workingDir != null && workingDir.length() > 0 && _fs != null)
 		{
 			try
 			{