diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
index 554dafedfd909b3f9c0d1873f89ad457e6ae6eb9..9f553e8531c622ca1ec0f8ee1ea5e59072ebeb3a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
@@ -285,13 +285,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractProject<P extends AbstractProject<P,R>,R extends A
 
         RunMap<R> currentBuilds = this.builds;
 
-        if (currentBuilds==null) {
+        if (currentBuilds==null && parent!=null) {
             // are we overwriting what currently exist?
             // this is primarily when Jenkins is getting reloaded
             Item current = parent.getItem(name);
             if (current!=null && current.getClass()==getClass()) {
                 currentBuilds = ((AbstractProject)current).builds;
-            }
         }
         if (currentBuilds !=null) {
             // if we are reloading, keep all those that are still building intact