diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/language/settings/providers/LanguageSettingsProviderTab.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/language/settings/providers/LanguageSettingsProviderTab.java
index d858baa05ed..bced35b4906 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/language/settings/providers/LanguageSettingsProviderTab.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/language/settings/providers/LanguageSettingsProviderTab.java
@@ -1081,11 +1081,13 @@ public class LanguageSettingsProviderTab extends AbstractCPropertyTab {
 			return;
 
 		ICConfigurationDescription cfgDescription = getConfigurationDescription();
-		String cfgId = cfgDescription.getId();
-		if (!initialProvidersByCfg.containsKey(cfgId)) {
-			if (cfgDescription instanceof ILanguageSettingsProvidersKeeper) {
-				List<ILanguageSettingsProvider> initialProviders = ((ILanguageSettingsProvidersKeeper) cfgDescription).getLanguageSettingProviders();
-				initialProvidersByCfg.put(cfgId, initialProviders);
+		if (cfgDescription != null) {
+			String cfgId = cfgDescription.getId();
+			if (!initialProvidersByCfg.containsKey(cfgId)) {
+				if (cfgDescription instanceof ILanguageSettingsProvidersKeeper) {
+					List<ILanguageSettingsProvider> initialProviders = ((ILanguageSettingsProvidersKeeper) cfgDescription).getLanguageSettingProviders();
+					initialProvidersByCfg.put(cfgId, initialProviders);
+				}
 			}
 		}