diff --git a/libraries/tools/kotlin-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/gradle/dsl/KotlinProjectExtension.kt b/libraries/tools/kotlin-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/gradle/dsl/KotlinProjectExtension.kt
index 4d8c039cffd..152c5fcc2e7 100644
--- a/libraries/tools/kotlin-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/gradle/dsl/KotlinProjectExtension.kt
+++ b/libraries/tools/kotlin-gradle-plugin/src/main/kotlin/org/jetbrains/kotlin/gradle/dsl/KotlinProjectExtension.kt
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ internal fun Project.createKotlinExtension(extensionClass: KClass<out KotlinProj
 }
 
 internal val Project.kotlinExtensionOrNull: KotlinProjectExtension?
-    get() = extensions.findByName(KOTLIN_PROJECT_EXTENSION_NAME) as KotlinProjectExtension?
+    get() = extensions.findByName(KOTLIN_PROJECT_EXTENSION_NAME) as? KotlinProjectExtension
 
 internal val Project.kotlinExtension: KotlinProjectExtension
     get() = extensions.getByName(KOTLIN_PROJECT_EXTENSION_NAME) as KotlinProjectExtension