diff --git a/plugins/org.eclipse.wst.common.emfworkbench.integration/src/org/eclipse/wst/common/internal/emfworkbench/integration/EditModel.java b/plugins/org.eclipse.wst.common.emfworkbench.integration/src/org/eclipse/wst/common/internal/emfworkbench/integration/EditModel.java
index 80c98df..f83118f 100644
--- a/plugins/org.eclipse.wst.common.emfworkbench.integration/src/org/eclipse/wst/common/internal/emfworkbench/integration/EditModel.java
+++ b/plugins/org.eclipse.wst.common.emfworkbench.integration/src/org/eclipse/wst/common/internal/emfworkbench/integration/EditModel.java
@@ -937,6 +937,8 @@
 
 
 	public IProject getProject() {
+		if(project == null)
+			throw new IllegalStateException("The value of the project attribute is null"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 		return project;
 	}