FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_10"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-b33)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b15, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When i execute following code i get a NullPointerException.

import java.util.*;

public class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {

    Object hashInputRule = new Object();
    Byte l = null;
    Byte rule = ((hashInputRule == null) ? ((byte) 0) : l);
  }
}

If change this line
    Byte rule = ((hashInputRule == null) ? ((byte) 0) : l);
to
    Byte rule = ((hashInputRule == null) ? ((byte) 0) : null);

NPE doesn't apper.


STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
D:\temp\java_bug>java -version
java version "1.6.0_10"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-b33)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b15, mixed mode, sharing)

D:\temp\java_bug>javac Main.java


D:\temp\java_bug>java Main
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
        at Main.main(Main.java:8)

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
I expect that NPE doesn't apper.
ACTUAL -
Actually i get NPE.


ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
        at Main.main(Main.java:8)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------

import java.util.*;

public class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {

    Object hashInputRule = new Object();
    Byte l = null;
    Byte rule = ((hashInputRule == null) ? ((byte) 0) : l);
  }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------