diff --git a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xupdate/XUpdateProcessor.java b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xupdate/XUpdateProcessor.java
index 911a2d3cd9..ff61225314 100644
--- a/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xupdate/XUpdateProcessor.java
+++ b/exist-core/src/main/java/org/exist/xupdate/XUpdateProcessor.java
@@ -949,7 +949,7 @@ private Conditional popConditional() {
 
     private @Nullable Conditional peekConditional() {
         if (conditionals == null) {
-            throw null;
+            return null;
         }
         return conditionals.peek();
     }