diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/semantics/EvalID.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/semantics/EvalID.java
index a3d45e822d5..36ffb4a9c88 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/semantics/EvalID.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/dom/parser/cpp/semantics/EvalID.java
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ public class EvalID extends CPPDependentEvaluation {
 	public EvalID(ICPPEvaluation fieldOwner, IBinding nameOwner, char[] simpleID, boolean addressOf,
 			boolean qualified, ICPPTemplateArgument[] templateArgs, IBinding templateDefinition) {
 		super(templateDefinition);
+		if (simpleID == null)
+			throw new NullPointerException("simpleID"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		fFieldOwner= fieldOwner;
 		fName= simpleID;
 		fNameOwner= nameOwner;