diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/net/FTP.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/net/FTP.java
index 2b79484f3..2781499f8 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/net/FTP.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/net/FTP.java
@@ -561,6 +561,9 @@ public class FTP
             return listFiles(directory, true);
         }
         private void checkRemoteSensitivity(FTPFile[] array, String directory) {
+            if (array == null) {
+                return;
+            }
             boolean candidateFound = false;
             String target = null;
             for (int icounter = 0; icounter < array.length; icounter++) {