diff --git a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/jdk/ResourcesHelper.java b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/jdk/ResourcesHelper.java
index a4eb731f97ab..b4f00e85c9fe 100644
--- a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/jdk/ResourcesHelper.java
+++ b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/jdk/ResourcesHelper.java
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public static URL nameToResourceURL(Module module, String resourceName) {
 
     public static InputStream nameToResourceInputStream(String mn, String resourceName) throws IOException {
         VMError.guarantee(ImageInfo.inImageRuntimeCode(), "ResourcesHelper code should only be used at runtime");
-        Module module = ModuleLayer.boot().findModule(mn).orElse(null);
+        Module module = mn == null ? null : ModuleLayer.boot().findModule(mn).orElse(null);
         URL url = nameToResourceURL(module, resourceName);
         return url != null ? url.openStream() : null;
     }