diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/AbstractCModelOutlinePage.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/AbstractCModelOutlinePage.java
index 4cceee2560c..d3d7d5658aa 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/AbstractCModelOutlinePage.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/AbstractCModelOutlinePage.java
@@ -324,9 +324,11 @@ public abstract class AbstractCModelOutlinePage extends Page implements IContent
 		
 		int offset = editorSelection.getOffset();
 		
-		ICElement editorElement;
+		ICElement editorElement= null;
 		try {
-			editorElement = fInput.getElementAtOffset(offset);
+			 if (fInput.isStructureKnown() && fInput.isConsistent()) {
+				 editorElement = fInput.getElementAtOffset(offset);
+			 }
 		} catch (CModelException e) {
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
index 2cd821ba6b8..b06b5b3b3a7 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/editor/CEditor.java
@@ -1716,7 +1716,7 @@ public class CEditor extends TextEditor implements ISelectionChangedListener, IC
 						((IWorkingCopy) unit).reconcile();
 					}
 					return unit.getElementAtOffset(offset);
-				} else if (unit.isConsistent()) {
+				} else if (unit.isStructureKnown() && unit.isConsistent()) {
 					return unit.getElementAtOffset(offset);
 				}
 			} catch (CModelException x) {