diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/CdtVarPathEntryVariableManager.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/CdtVarPathEntryVariableManager.java
index 8268b089a0e..16662e1375b 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/CdtVarPathEntryVariableManager.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/CdtVarPathEntryVariableManager.java
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ public class CdtVarPathEntryVariableManager implements
 	}
 
 	public IPath resolvePath(IPath path) {
+		if(path == null)
+			return null;
+		
 		String str = path.toPortableString();
 		
 		try {