diff --git a/check_api/src/main/java/com/google/errorprone/util/ASTHelpers.java b/check_api/src/main/java/com/google/errorprone/util/ASTHelpers.java
index 7882a03e7ca..efde524e11a 100644
--- a/check_api/src/main/java/com/google/errorprone/util/ASTHelpers.java
+++ b/check_api/src/main/java/com/google/errorprone/util/ASTHelpers.java
@@ -1001,6 +1001,9 @@ private static Set<Name> directAnnotationsAmong(
    * annotation inheritance (see JLS 9.6.4.3).
    */
   public static boolean hasDirectAnnotationWithSimpleName(Symbol sym, String simpleName) {
+    if (sym == null) {
+      return false;
+    }
     if (sym instanceof MethodSymbol) {
       return hasDirectAnnotationWithSimpleName((MethodSymbol) sym, simpleName);
     }