diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/util/EditorUtility.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/util/EditorUtility.java
index 53ee8433704..2b96e0cd0ff 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/util/EditorUtility.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/util/EditorUtility.java
@@ -152,7 +152,10 @@ public class EditorUtility {
 				element= ((IWorkingCopy) element).getOriginalElement();
  
  			if (element instanceof ISourceReference) {
- 				element = ((ISourceReference)element).getTranslationUnit();                    
+ 				ITranslationUnit tu = ((ISourceReference)element).getTranslationUnit();
+ 				if (tu != null) {
+ 					element = tu;                    
+ 				}
  			}
 
 			if (element instanceof ITranslationUnit) {