diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/matrix/MatrixProject.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/matrix/MatrixProject.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/matrix/MatrixProject.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/matrix/MatrixProject.java
@@ -666,6 +666,9 @@ public class MatrixProject extends AbstractProject<MatrixProject,MatrixBuild> im
     }
 
     public MatrixConfiguration getItem(Combination c) {
+        if (configurations == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
         return configurations.get(c);
     }
[FIXED JENKINS-<I>] Hotfix for regression in matrix project loading from <I>f5.