diff --git a/libraries/scripting/dependencies-maven/src/kotlin/script/experimental/dependencies/maven/impl/aether.kt b/libraries/scripting/dependencies-maven/src/kotlin/script/experimental/dependencies/maven/impl/aether.kt
index b866c627588fc..268bd7846494c 100644
--- a/libraries/scripting/dependencies-maven/src/kotlin/script/experimental/dependencies/maven/impl/aether.kt
+++ b/libraries/scripting/dependencies-maven/src/kotlin/script/experimental/dependencies/maven/impl/aether.kt
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ internal class AetherResolveSession(
     ): Settings {
         var main = result.effectiveSettings
         val files = File(System.getProperty("user.dir"))
-            .parentFile.listFiles(
+            .parentFile?.listFiles(
                 NameFileFilter("interpolated-settings.xml") as FileFilter
             )
         val settingsFile = files?.singleOrNull()