diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/CompleteParseASTFactory.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/CompleteParseASTFactory.java
index a626b37f435..636b49015ac 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/CompleteParseASTFactory.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/ast/complete/CompleteParseASTFactory.java
@@ -3574,6 +3574,7 @@ public class CompleteParseASTFactory extends BaseASTFactory implements IASTFacto
 				{
 					try {
 						ISymbol symbol = getExpressionSymbol( scope, expression.getExpressionKind(), expression.getLHSExpression(), expression.getRHSExpression(), null, null );
+						if( symbol == null) return null;
 						return symbol.getASTExtension().getPrimaryDeclaration();
 					} catch (ASTSemanticException e) {
 						return null;