diff --git a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/LocalCLaunchConfigurationDelegate.java b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/LocalCLaunchConfigurationDelegate.java
index dee2cd3437b..937156e8033 100644
--- a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/LocalCLaunchConfigurationDelegate.java
+++ b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/internal/LocalCLaunchConfigurationDelegate.java
@@ -78,9 +78,10 @@ public class LocalCLaunchConfigurationDelegate extends AbstractCLaunchDelegate {
 		command.addAll(Arrays.asList(arguments));
 
 		if (mode.equals(ILaunchManager.DEBUG_MODE)) {
-			ICDebugConfiguration dbgCfg = CDebugCorePlugin.getDefault().getDebugConfiguration(config.getAttribute(ICDTLaunchConfigurationConstants.ATTR_DEBUGGER_ID, ""));
+			ICDebugConfiguration dbgCfg = null;
 			ICDebugger cdebugger = null;			
 			try {
+				dbgCfg = CDebugCorePlugin.getDefault().getDebugConfiguration(config.getAttribute(ICDTLaunchConfigurationConstants.ATTR_DEBUGGER_ID, ""));
 				cdebugger = dbgCfg.getDebugger();
 			}
 			catch (CoreException e) {