diff --git a/plugins/org.python.pydev.shared_core/src/org/python/pydev/shared_core/resource_stubs/FileStub.java b/plugins/org.python.pydev.shared_core/src/org/python/pydev/shared_core/resource_stubs/FileStub.java
index 16dfae33e8..cf3e18258e 100644
--- a/plugins/org.python.pydev.shared_core/src/org/python/pydev/shared_core/resource_stubs/FileStub.java
+++ b/plugins/org.python.pydev.shared_core/src/org/python/pydev/shared_core/resource_stubs/FileStub.java
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public long getModificationStamp() {
             FileTime ret = Files.getLastModifiedTime(this.file.toPath());
             return ret.to(TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS);
         } catch (IOException e) {
-            throw new RuntimeException(e);
+            return -1; // File does not exist.
         }
     }