diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/PatternSet.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/PatternSet.java
index 6c55cda2a..6e75aef79 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/PatternSet.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/PatternSet.java
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ public class PatternSet extends DataType implements Cloneable {
         }
 
         public String toString() {
-            StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer(name);
+            StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer(name != null ? name : "");
             if ((ifCond != null) || (unlessCond != null)) {
                 buf.append(":");
                 String connector = "";