diff --git a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Flow.java b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Flow.java
index 1d189900f8fb0..b05630f868664 100644
--- a/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Flow.java
+++ b/src/jdk.compiler/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/comp/Flow.java
@@ -832,6 +832,7 @@ private boolean exhausts(JCExpression selector, List<JCCase> cases) {
                 for (var l : c.labels) {
                     if (l instanceof JCPatternCaseLabel patternLabel) {
                         if (patternLabel.pat instanceof JCRecordPattern rec &&
+                            rec.patternDeclaration != null &&
                             !rec.patternDeclaration.patternFlags.contains(PatternFlags.TOTAL)) {
                             continue;
                         }