diff --git a/src/NECompletion/RBProgramNode.extension.st b/src/NECompletion/RBProgramNode.extension.st
index 7c9b790da55..7f36cf32cc0 100644
--- a/src/NECompletion/RBProgramNode.extension.st
+++ b/src/NECompletion/RBProgramNode.extension.st
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Extension { #name : #RBProgramNode }
 RBProgramNode >> completionEntries: offset [
 	"for now we give all selectors and gloabls as a fallback"
 	| selectors globals |
-	
+	self methodNode sourceCode ifNil: [ ^#() ].
 	selectors := Symbol selectorTable 
 		select: [ :each | each beginsWith: (self completionToken: offset)] 
 		thenCollect: [ :each | NECSymbolEntry contents: each node: self ].
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ RBProgramNode >> completionEntries: offset [
 { #category : #'*NECompletion' }
 RBProgramNode >> completionToken: offset [
 	"fall back: if we are not able to parse to something better, we use the word before the cursor"
-	^self methodNode sourceCode wordBefore: offset
 
+	^ self methodNode sourceCode
+		  ifNil: [ String new ]
+		  ifNotNil: [ :source | source wordBefore: offset ]
 ]