diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index ac8381cc9b..360b3d91d0 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -4061,8 +4061,11 @@ bool cmMakefile::IsAlias(const char *name)
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGeneratorTarget* cmMakefile::FindGeneratorTargetToUse(const char* name)
 {
-  cmTarget *t = this->FindTargetToUse(name);
-  return this->LocalGenerator->GetGlobalGenerator()->GetGeneratorTarget(t);
+  if (cmTarget *t = this->FindTargetToUse(name))
+    {
+    return this->LocalGenerator->GetGlobalGenerator()->GetGeneratorTarget(t);
+    }
+  return 0;
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------