diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.make.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/make/internal/core/ProjectTargets.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.make.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/make/internal/core/ProjectTargets.java
index 8e5879b7dd8..c3fe5d7391c 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.make.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/make/internal/core/ProjectTargets.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.make.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/make/internal/core/ProjectTargets.java
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public class ProjectTargets {
 
 	public void remove(IMakeTarget target) {
 		ArrayList list = (ArrayList) targetMap.get(target.getContainer());
-		if (list != null && !list.contains(target)) {
+		if (list == null || !list.contains(target)) {
 			return;
 		}
 		list.remove(target);