diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/scm/browser/dirtydiffDecorator.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/scm/browser/dirtydiffDecorator.ts
index df3a76569fa4dcdc27765577278e27b44467095d..d556bdf660c484f9c005a0c06cf20237959c18aa 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/scm/browser/dirtydiffDecorator.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/scm/browser/dirtydiffDecorator.ts
@@ -1123,6 +1123,8 @@ export class DirtyDiffModel extends Disposable {
 				this.originalModelDisposables.add(ref.object.textEditorModel.onDidChangeContent(() => this.triggerDiff()));
 
 				return originalUri;
+			}).catch(error => {
+				return null; // possibly invalid reference
 			});
 		});