diff --git a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.reflect/src/com/oracle/svm/reflect/hosted/ReflectionDataBuilder.java b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.reflect/src/com/oracle/svm/reflect/hosted/ReflectionDataBuilder.java
index 386096c667d3..59560be09d81 100644
--- a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.reflect/src/com/oracle/svm/reflect/hosted/ReflectionDataBuilder.java
+++ b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.reflect/src/com/oracle/svm/reflect/hosted/ReflectionDataBuilder.java
@@ -608,6 +608,9 @@ private void registerTypesForAnnotationDefault(DuringAnalysisAccessImpl access,
     }
 
     private static boolean includeAnnotation(DuringAnalysisAccessImpl access, AnnotationValue annotationValue) {
+        if (annotationValue == null) {
+            return false;
+        }
         for (Class<?> type : annotationValue.getTypes()) {
             if (type == null || SubstitutionReflectivityFilter.shouldExclude(type, access.getMetaAccess(), access.getUniverse())) {
                 return false;