diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/text/correction/QuickAssistProcessor.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/text/correction/QuickAssistProcessor.java
index 2d066301961..9db71e23326 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/text/correction/QuickAssistProcessor.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/text/correction/QuickAssistProcessor.java
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ public class QuickAssistProcessor implements IQuickAssistProcessor {
 
 			@Override
 			public IStatus runOnAST(ILanguage lang, IASTTranslationUnit astRoot) throws CoreException {
+				if (astRoot == null) {
+					return Status.CANCEL_STATUS;
+				}
+				
 				IASTNodeSelector selector= astRoot.getNodeSelector(null);
 				IASTName name= selector.findEnclosingName(context.getSelectionOffset(), context.getSelectionLength());