diff --git a/vraptor-core/src/main/java/br/com/caelum/vraptor/interceptor/CustomAcceptsVerifier.java b/vraptor-core/src/main/java/br/com/caelum/vraptor/interceptor/CustomAcceptsVerifier.java
index 6bbd4643a..980d379fe 100644
--- a/vraptor-core/src/main/java/br/com/caelum/vraptor/interceptor/CustomAcceptsVerifier.java
+++ b/vraptor-core/src/main/java/br/com/caelum/vraptor/interceptor/CustomAcceptsVerifier.java
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ private static Predicate<Annotation> acceptsConstraintMatcher() {
 		return new Predicate<Annotation>() {
 			@Override
 			public boolean apply(Annotation element) {
-				return element.annotationType().isAnnotationPresent(AcceptsConstraint.class);
+				return element != null && element.annotationType().isAnnotationPresent(AcceptsConstraint.class);
 			}
 		};
 	}