diff --git a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Matcher.java b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Matcher.java
index 4752e49f93122..71b132cba8e24 100644
--- a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Matcher.java
+++ b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Matcher.java
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ public String group() {
      *          with the given name
      * @since 1.7
      */
-    public String group(String name) {
+    public @Nullable String group(String name) {
         int group = getMatchedGroupIndex(name);
         if ((groups[group*2] == -1) || (groups[group*2+1] == -1))
             return null;