diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/comparators/Reverse.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/comparators/Reverse.java
index 664261d88..6bef0e721 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/comparators/Reverse.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/resources/comparators/Reverse.java
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public class Reverse extends ResourceComparator {
         if (isReference()) {
             super.dieOnCircularReference(stk, p);
         } else {
-            if (nested instanceof DataType) {
+            if (nested != null) {
                 pushAndInvokeCircularReferenceCheck((DataType) nested, stk,
                                                     p);
             }