diff --git a/com.google.eclipse.protobuf.ui/src/com/google/eclipse/protobuf/ui/editor/spelling/ProtobufSpelling.java b/com.google.eclipse.protobuf.ui/src/com/google/eclipse/protobuf/ui/editor/spelling/ProtobufSpelling.java
index 14bdda8..4096304 100644
--- a/com.google.eclipse.protobuf.ui/src/com/google/eclipse/protobuf/ui/editor/spelling/ProtobufSpelling.java
+++ b/com.google.eclipse.protobuf.ui/src/com/google/eclipse/protobuf/ui/editor/spelling/ProtobufSpelling.java
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@
     this.nodes = nodes;
   }
 
-  @Override public void setDocument(IDocument document) {
-    super.setDocument(document);
+  @Override public void initialReconcile() {
+    if (getDocument() != null) {
+      super.initialReconcile();
+    }
   }
 
   @Override public void reconcile(IRegion region) {