diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/misc/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/tests/RefreshScopeTests.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/misc/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/tests/RefreshScopeTests.java
index 42af45c1366..0e4e86fa31b 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/misc/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/tests/RefreshScopeTests.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core.tests/misc/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/tests/RefreshScopeTests.java
@@ -344,5 +344,20 @@ public class RefreshScopeTests extends TestCase {
 
 	}
 	
+	public void testDefaults() {
+		RefreshScopeManager manager = RefreshScopeManager.getInstance();
+		
+		// by default, a project should refresh its root
+		List<IResource> resourcesToRefresh = manager.getResourcesToRefresh(fProject);
+		assertEquals(1, resourcesToRefresh.size());
+		IResource[] resourceArray = resourcesToRefresh.toArray(new IResource[0]);
+		assertEquals(fProject, resourceArray[0]);
+		
+		// there should be no exclusions
+		List<RefreshExclusion> exclusions = manager.getExclusions(fProject);
+		assertEquals(0, exclusions.size());
+		
+	}
+	
 
 }
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/RefreshScopeManager.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/RefreshScopeManager.java
index 7634418e192..377f81274fa 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/RefreshScopeManager.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/core/resources/RefreshScopeManager.java
@@ -163,18 +163,20 @@ public class RefreshScopeManager {
 	 * These resources might have associated exclusions.
 	 * 
 	 * @param project
-	 * @return Set<IResource>
+	 * @return List<IResource>
 	 */
 	public List<IResource> getResourcesToRefresh(IProject project) {
 		getProjectToResourcesMap();
 		LinkedHashSet<IResource> resources = fProjectToResourcesMap.get(project);
-		List<IResource> retval;
-		if (resources == null)
-			retval= new LinkedList<IResource>();
-		else
-			retval= new LinkedList<IResource>(resources);
 		
-		return retval;
+		if (resources == null) {
+			resources = new LinkedHashSet<IResource>();
+			resources.add(project);
+			fProjectToResourcesMap.put(project, resources);
+			
+		}	
+		
+		return new LinkedList<IResource>(resources);
 	}
 	
 	public void setResourcesToRefresh(IProject project, List<IResource> resources) {