diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPTemplateScope.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPTemplateScope.java
index e1ea05489e5..8906dc8d222 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPTemplateScope.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPTemplateScope.java
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class CPPTemplateScope extends CPPScope implements ICPPTemplateScope {
 	public IScope getParent() {
 	    ICPPASTTemplateDeclaration templateDecl = (ICPPASTTemplateDeclaration) getPhysicalNode();
 	    IASTName name = CPPTemplates.getTemplateName( templateDecl );
-	    IASTNode p = name.getParent();
+	    IASTNode p = name != null ? name.getParent() : null;
 	    if( p instanceof ICPPASTQualifiedName ){
 	        ICPPASTQualifiedName qual = (ICPPASTQualifiedName) p;
 	        IASTName [] names = qual.getNames();