diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/dialogs/cpaths/CPElement.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/dialogs/cpaths/CPElement.java
index 35138261f78..4e169f5fd70 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/dialogs/cpaths/CPElement.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/dialogs/cpaths/CPElement.java
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ public class CPElement {
 						res = root.getFolder(path);
 					}
 				}
-				if (res.getType() != IResource.PROJECT) {
+				if (res.getType() != IResource.PROJECT && project != null) {
 					isMissing = !project.isOnSourceRoot(res);
 				}
 				exclusion = ((IIncludeEntry) curr).getExclusionPatterns();
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ public class CPElement {
 						res = root.getFolder(path);
 					}
 				}
-				if (res.getType() != IResource.PROJECT) {
+				if (res.getType() != IResource.PROJECT && project != null) {
 					isMissing = !project.isOnSourceRoot(res);
 				}
 				exclusion = ((IMacroEntry) curr).getExclusionPatterns();