--- a/editor.completion/src/org/netbeans/modules/editor/completion/CompletionImpl.java	Thu Nov 10 23:09:26 2011 -0600
+++ a/editor.completion/src/org/netbeans/modules/editor/completion/CompletionImpl.java	Tue Nov 15 13:15:47 2011 -0600
@@ -1794,7 +1794,7 @@ 
             synchronized (resultSets) {
                 if (controller == null) {
                     if (resultSets.isEmpty()) {
-                        return null;
+                        return FALLBACK_COMPLETION_CONTROLLER;
                     }
 
                     JTextComponent component = getActiveComponent();