diff --git a/bundles/core/org.eclipse.smarthome.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/items/GenericItem.java b/bundles/core/org.eclipse.smarthome.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/items/GenericItem.java
index 4c6907ef69d..ed99820e030 100644
--- a/bundles/core/org.eclipse.smarthome.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/items/GenericItem.java
+++ b/bundles/core/org.eclipse.smarthome.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/items/GenericItem.java
@@ -355,10 +355,12 @@ public StateDescription getStateDescription() {
 
     @Override
     public StateDescription getStateDescription(Locale locale) {
-        for (StateDescriptionProvider stateDescriptionProvider : stateDescriptionProviders) {
-            StateDescription stateDescription = stateDescriptionProvider.getStateDescription(this.name, locale);
-            if(stateDescription != null) {
-                return stateDescription;
+        if(stateDescriptionProviders != null) {
+            for (StateDescriptionProvider stateDescriptionProvider : stateDescriptionProviders) {
+                StateDescription stateDescription = stateDescriptionProvider.getStateDescription(this.name, locale);
+                if(stateDescription != null) {
+                    return stateDescription;
+                }
             }
         }
         return null;