diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/CASTAmbiguity.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/CASTAmbiguity.java
index 9707ccd51fe..a361f547d7f 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/CASTAmbiguity.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/c/CASTAmbiguity.java
@@ -72,9 +72,12 @@ public abstract class CASTAmbiguity extends CASTNode  {
                     if( b == null || b instanceof IProblemBinding )
                         ++issues[i];
                     IScope scope = CPPVisitor.getContainingScope( names[j] );
-                    try {
-                        scope.flushCache();
-                    } catch (DOMException e) {
+                    if( scope != null )
+                    {
+                        try {
+                            scope.flushCache();
+                        } catch (DOMException e) {
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 catch( Throwable t )
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPASTAmbiguity.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPASTAmbiguity.java
index 67cbce9ce19..dad275c104a 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPASTAmbiguity.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPASTAmbiguity.java
@@ -73,9 +73,12 @@ public abstract class CPPASTAmbiguity extends CPPASTNode {
             }
             if (names.length > 0) {
                 IScope scope = CPPVisitor.getContainingScope(names[0]);
-                try {
-                    scope.flushCache();
-                } catch (DOMException de) {}
+                if( scope != null )
+                {
+                    try {
+                        scope.flushCache();
+                    } catch (DOMException de) {}
+                }
             }
         }
         int bestIndex = 0;