diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
index 27bac6738..b35a4ade1 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Main.java
@@ -131,7 +131,10 @@ public class Main {
             System.exit(0);
         }
         catch(Throwable exc) {
-            System.err.println(exc.getMessage());
+            String message = exc.getMessage();
+            if (message != null) {
+                System.err.println(message);
+            }
             System.exit(1);
         }
     }