diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/api/generator/engine/ast/ForStatement.java b/src/main/java/com/google/api/generator/engine/ast/ForStatement.java
index 7c6222d411..b1216b6210 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/api/generator/engine/ast/ForStatement.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/api/generator/engine/ast/ForStatement.java
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ public abstract static class Builder {
 
     public ForStatement build() {
       ForStatement forStatement = autoBuild();
+      NodeValidator.checkNoNullElements(forStatement.body(), "body", "for-statement");
       Preconditions.checkState(
           forStatement.localVariableExpr().isDecl(),
           "For-statement variable must be a declaration");