diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/Homebrew.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/Homebrew.java
index 4c239479c7e..ad2938d7ee3 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/Homebrew.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/utils/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/Homebrew.java
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class Homebrew {
 			}
 		}
 		String defaultHomebrewPath = getDefaultHomebrewPath();
-		if (installationExists(defaultHomebrewPath)) {
+		if ((defaultHomebrewPath != null) && installationExists(defaultHomebrewPath)) {
 			return defaultHomebrewPath;
 		}
 		return null;