diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVisitor.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVisitor.java
index 6d9eafb7822..4d77a38087d 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVisitor.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPVisitor.java
@@ -1176,7 +1176,10 @@ public class CPPVisitor {
                     } catch ( DOMException e ) {
                         return PROCESS_CONTINUE;
                     }
-			        candidate = bs[ ++n ];
+                    if( bs == null || bs.length == 0 )
+                        candidate = null;
+                    else
+                        candidate = bs[ ++n ];
 			    } else {
 			        candidate = potential;
 			    }