diff --git a/plugin_ide.ui/src/com/googlecode/goclipse/ui/editor/actions/GoFmtOperation.java b/plugin_ide.ui/src/com/googlecode/goclipse/ui/editor/actions/GoFmtOperation.java
index a4ad4b0d5..ea14c73be 100644
--- a/plugin_ide.ui/src/com/googlecode/goclipse/ui/editor/actions/GoFmtOperation.java
+++ b/plugin_ide.ui/src/com/googlecode/goclipse/ui/editor/actions/GoFmtOperation.java
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ protected ProcessBuilder prepareProcessBuilder(Path goSDKPath, GoEnvironment goE
 	}
 	
 	protected Path getGofmtLocation(GoEnvironment goEnv) throws CommonException {
-		if(GoToolPreferences.GOFMT_Path.getPreference().get().isEmpty()) {
+		if(GoToolPreferences.GOFMT_Path.getPreference().get() == null) {
 			return getGofmtLocationFromGoRoot(goEnv.getGoRoot_Location()).toPath();
 		}
 		return GoToolPreferences.GOFMT_Path.getDerivedValue(project);