diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.dstore/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/services/dstore/files/DStoreHostFile.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.dstore/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/services/dstore/files/DStoreHostFile.java
index 19e91175a27..11f308722ed 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.dstore/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/services/dstore/files/DStoreHostFile.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.dstore/src/org/eclipse/rse/internal/services/dstore/files/DStoreHostFile.java
@@ -325,15 +325,15 @@ public class DStoreHostFile implements IHostFile
 	
 	protected static String getAttribute(String attributes, int index)
 	{
-		String[] str = attributes.split("\\"+IServiceConstants.TOKEN_SEPARATOR); //$NON-NLS-1$
-		if (str.length > index)
+		if (attributes != null)
 		{
-			return str[index];
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			return null;
+			String[] str = attributes.split("\\"+IServiceConstants.TOKEN_SEPARATOR); //$NON-NLS-1$
+			if (str.length > index)
+			{
+				return str[index];
+			}
 		}
+		return null;
 	}
 
 	public void renameTo(String newAbsolutePath)