diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ProjectHelper.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ProjectHelper.java
index 027b33cb1..0d86d8645 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ProjectHelper.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ProjectHelper.java
@@ -252,8 +252,10 @@ public class ProjectHelper {
 
             project.setDefaultTarget(def);
 
-            project.setName(name);
-            if (name != null) project.addReference(name, project);
+            if (name != null) {
+                project.setName(name);
+                project.addReference(name, project);
+            }
 
             if (id != null) project.addReference(id, project);