diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.core/src/org/eclipse/rse/core/internal/RSECoreRegistry.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.core/src/org/eclipse/rse/core/internal/RSECoreRegistry.java
index fc3fa981eba..14e2a9fb0ee 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.core/src/org/eclipse/rse/core/internal/RSECoreRegistry.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.core/src/org/eclipse/rse/core/internal/RSECoreRegistry.java
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import org.eclipse.rse.core.IRSESystemType;
 public class RSECoreRegistry implements IRSECoreRegistry {
 
 	// the singleton instance
-	private static RSECoreRegistry instance;
+	private static RSECoreRegistry instance = null;
 
 	// extension registry
 	private IExtensionRegistry registry;