diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPScope.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPScope.java
index 3acdd1babc2..6d0a0e3c5b0 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPScope.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/CPPScope.java
@@ -93,14 +93,15 @@ abstract public class CPPScope implements ICPPASTInternalScope {
 		if (!name.isActive())
 			return;
 
-		if (bindings == null)
-			bindings = new CharArrayObjectMap<>(1);
 		if (name instanceof ICPPASTQualifiedName &&
 				!(physicalNode instanceof ICPPASTCompositeTypeSpecifier) &&
 				!(physicalNode instanceof ICPPASTNamespaceDefinition)) {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		if (bindings == null)
+			bindings = new CharArrayObjectMap<>(1);
+
 		final char[] c= name.getLookupKey();
 		if (c.length == 0)
 			return;