diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
index 1d538ab38e3..6fa1c6b9148 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
@@ -2085,35 +2085,45 @@ public class CEditor extends TextEditor implements ICEditor, ISelectionChangedLi
 	@Override
 	protected boolean canHandleMove(IEditorInput originalElement, IEditorInput movedElement) {
 		String oldLanguage = ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if (originalElement instanceof IFileEditorInput) {
-			IFile file = ((IFileEditorInput) originalElement).getFile();
-			if (file != null) {
-				IContentType type = CCorePlugin.getContentType(file.getProject(), file.getName());
-				if (type != null) {
-					oldLanguage = type.getId();
-				}
-				if (oldLanguage == null) {
-					return false;
-				}
+		IFile originalFile = getEditorInputFile(originalElement);
+		
+		if (originalFile != null) {
+			// if the project of the original input cannot be accessed, 
+			// we do have a project rename scenario and we can handle a move
+			// see Bug #434852
+			if (originalFile.getProject() != null && !originalFile.getProject().isAccessible()) {
+				return true;
+			}
+			IContentType type = CCorePlugin.getContentType(originalFile.getProject(), originalFile.getName());
+			if (type != null) {
+				oldLanguage = type.getId();
+			}
+			if (oldLanguage == null) {
+				return false;
 			}
 		}
 
 		String newLanguage = ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if (movedElement instanceof IFileEditorInput) {
-			IFile file = ((IFileEditorInput) movedElement).getFile();
-			if (file != null) {
-				IContentType type = CCorePlugin.getContentType(file.getProject(), file.getName());
-				if (type != null) {
-					newLanguage = type.getId();
-				}
-				if (newLanguage == null) {
-					return false;
-				}
+		IFile movedFile = getEditorInputFile(movedElement);
+		if (movedFile != null) {
+			IContentType type = CCorePlugin.getContentType(movedFile.getProject(), movedFile.getName());
+			if (type != null) {
+				newLanguage = type.getId();
+			}
+			if (newLanguage == null) {
+				return false;
 			}
 		}
 		return oldLanguage.equals(newLanguage);
 	}
 
+	private IFile getEditorInputFile(IEditorInput editorInput) {
+		if (editorInput instanceof IFileEditorInput) {
+			return ((IFileEditorInput) editorInput).getFile();
+		}
+		return null;
+	}
+	
 	@Override
 	protected void createActions() {
 		super.createActions();