diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolReference.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolReference.java
index a551ffb7ae6..f72f61ede10 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolReference.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/ToolReference.java
@@ -569,7 +569,13 @@ public class ToolReference implements IToolReference {
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core.ITool#getOutputExtensions()
 	 */
 	public String[] getOutputExtensions() {
-		if (outputExtensions == null) outputExtensions = new String();
+		if (outputExtensions == null){
+			 if (parent != null) { 
+			 	return parent.getOutputExtensions();
+			 } else {
+			 	return new String[0];
+			 } 
+		}
 		return outputExtensions.split(DEFAULT_SEPARATOR);
 	}