diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
index fddb4ff2be6..cbe5de6bdd3 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/DataProviderMessages.properties
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ ProjectConverter.5=the specified project can not be converted
 ProjectConverter.6=the project conversion failed
 ProjectConverter.7=targets conversion
 ProjectConverter.8=the project conversion failed due to unknown reason
+ProjectConverter.9=the given project is not a valid CDT project
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/ProjectConverter.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/ProjectConverter.java
index ee7bc6250ad..aa3b6e74692 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/ProjectConverter.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/dataprovider/ProjectConverter.java
@@ -390,6 +390,15 @@ public class ProjectConverter implements ICProjectConverter {
 //			}
 			
 			ICProjectDescription des = CCorePlugin.getDefault().getProjectDescription(project, false);
+			
+			if(des == null){
+				if(throwExceptions)
+					throw new CoreException(new Status(IStatus.ERROR,
+							ManagedBuilderCorePlugin.getUniqueIdentifier(),
+							DataProviderMessages.getString("ProjectConverter.9")));  //$NON-NLS-1$
+				return false;
+			}
+
 			ICConfigurationDescription cfgs[] = des.getConfigurations();
 			if(cfgs.length != 1){
 				if(throwExceptions)