diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/message/browser/messageList.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/message/browser/messageList.ts
index c17e752c19e95727266bbf068d8cebd172e2d240..c9e44de2a82110f85e8709a451a2c535cadc3afc 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/message/browser/messageList.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/message/browser/messageList.ts
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ export class MessageList {
 			return toErrorMessage(message, false);
 		}
 
-		if ((<IMessageWithAction>message).message) {
+		if (message && (<IMessageWithAction>message).message) {
 			return (<IMessageWithAction>message).message;
 		}