diff --git a/Core/org.emftext.language.java/src/org/emftext/language/java/extensions/references/ReferenceExtension.java b/Core/org.emftext.language.java/src/org/emftext/language/java/extensions/references/ReferenceExtension.java
index ee1f40af..9ffda1eb 100644
--- a/Core/org.emftext.language.java/src/org/emftext/language/java/extensions/references/ReferenceExtension.java
+++ b/Core/org.emftext.language.java/src/org/emftext/language/java/extensions/references/ReferenceExtension.java
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ else if (me instanceof ReflectiveClassReference) {
 		else if (me instanceof ElementReference) {
 			ReferenceableElement target = 
 				(ReferenceableElement) ((ElementReference) me).getTarget();
+			
+			if (target == null) {
+				return null;
+			}
 			if (target.eIsProxy()) {
 				type = null;
 			}