diff --git a/gradle-plugins/compose/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/compose/desktop/application/internal/configureApplication.kt b/gradle-plugins/compose/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/compose/desktop/application/internal/configureApplication.kt
index 4f044af03d..a9fc466ef9 100644
--- a/gradle-plugins/compose/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/compose/desktop/application/internal/configureApplication.kt
+++ b/gradle-plugins/compose/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/compose/desktop/application/internal/configureApplication.kt
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ private fun Project.configureRunTask(app: Application) {
         args = app.args
 
         val cp = objects.fileCollection()
-        cp.from(app.mainJar.orNull)
+        // adding a null value will cause future invocations of `from` to throw an NPE
+        app.mainJar.orNull?.let(cp::from)
         cp.from(app._fromFiles)
         dependsOn(*app._dependenciesTaskNames.toTypedArray())