diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench.renderers.swt/src/org/eclipse/e4/ui/workbench/renderers/swt/ContributedPartRenderer.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench.renderers.swt/src/org/eclipse/e4/ui/workbench/renderers/swt/ContributedPartRenderer.java
index b751024b6ac..dcbc5ef566f 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench.renderers.swt/src/org/eclipse/e4/ui/workbench/renderers/swt/ContributedPartRenderer.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.ui.workbench.renderers.swt/src/org/eclipse/e4/ui/workbench/renderers/swt/ContributedPartRenderer.java
@@ -103,8 +103,10 @@ public boolean setFocus() {
 							Object object = part.getObject();
 							if (object != null && isEnabled()) {
 								IPresentationEngine pe = part.getContext().get(IPresentationEngine.class);
-								pe.focusGui(part);
-								return true;
+								if (pe != null) {
+									pe.focusGui(part);
+									return true;
+								}
 							}
 							return super.setFocus();
 						} finally {