diff --git a/src/tokenized-buffer.coffee b/src/tokenized-buffer.coffee
index 67e4deb87..b068e587b 100644
--- a/src/tokenized-buffer.coffee
+++ b/src/tokenized-buffer.coffee
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ class TokenizedBuffer extends Model
 
   tokenizeInBackground: ->
     return if not @visible or @pendingChunk or not @isAlive()
+    return if @grammar is @grammar.registry.nullGrammar
     @pendingChunk = true
     _.defer =>
       @pendingChunk = false