diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/index/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/indexing/IndexManager.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/index/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/indexing/IndexManager.java
index c117fc53936..9be4b7e62ee 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/index/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/indexing/IndexManager.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/index/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/search/indexing/IndexManager.java
@@ -321,6 +321,9 @@ public class IndexManager extends JobManager implements IIndexConstants {
 	 * @return
 	 */
 	public boolean isIndexEnabled(IProject project) {
+		if( project == null || !project.exists() )
+			return false;
+		
 		Boolean indexValue = null;
 		
 		try {