diff --git a/src/main/java/org/olat/admin/user/imp/UserImportController.java b/src/main/java/org/olat/admin/user/imp/UserImportController.java
index 85233bc67970d1bd5f9106ce1850acf854150298..9d71af7731aaf6f1718708fac1799b4e58c075ef 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/olat/admin/user/imp/UserImportController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/olat/admin/user/imp/UserImportController.java
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ public class UserImportController extends BasicController {
 		newUser.getPreferences().setInformSessionTimeout(true);
 		// Save everything in database
 		Identity ident;
-		if(pwd.startsWith(SHIBBOLETH_MARKER) && ShibbolethModule.isEnableShibbolethLogins()) {
+		if(pwd != null && pwd.startsWith(SHIBBOLETH_MARKER) && ShibbolethModule.isEnableShibbolethLogins()) {
 			String uniqueID = pwd.substring(SHIBBOLETH_MARKER.length());
 			ident = AuthHelper.createAndPersistIdentityAndUserWithUserGroup(login, ShibbolethDispatcher.PROVIDER_SHIB, uniqueID, newUser);
 			report.incrementCreatedUser();