diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVariable.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVariable.java
index 17b2be332dd..520b8219b6c 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVariable.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVariable.java
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ public class CPPVariable implements ICPPVariable, ICPPInternalBinding {
             dtor = (IASTDeclarator) declarations[0].getParent();
         else {
             //definition of a static field doesn't necessarily say static
-            if( definition instanceof ICPPASTQualifiedName )
+            if( definition.getParent() instanceof ICPPASTQualifiedName )
                 return true;
             dtor = (IASTDeclarator) definition.getParent();
         }