diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/navigator/CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/navigator/CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant.java
index b764e87e6e6..77325bf805f 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/navigator/CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/navigator/CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant.java
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@ public class CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant extends CommonDropAdapterAssistant {
 			ISelection selection = LocalSelectionTransfer.getTransfer().getSelection();
 			ICElement[] cElements= getCElements(selection);
 			
+			if (cElements == null || cElements.length == 0) {
+				return Status.CANCEL_STATUS;	
+			}
 			if (!canCopyElements(cElements))
 				return Status.CANCEL_STATUS;	
 	
@@ -226,7 +229,10 @@ public class CNavigatorDropAdapterAssistant extends CommonDropAdapterAssistant {
 
 			ISelection selection = LocalSelectionTransfer.getTransfer().getSelection();
 			ICElement[] cElements= getCElements(selection);
-			
+
+			if (cElements == null || cElements.length == 0) {
+				return Status.CANCEL_STATUS;	
+			}
 			if (Arrays.asList(cElements).contains(target)) {
 				return Status.CANCEL_STATUS;	
 			}