diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
index a6db2797cf1..2b9e7b65d2a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/util/BackgroundTask.java
@@ -257,8 +257,11 @@ public BackgroundTask<V> withInitialMessage(String message) {
         return this;
     }
 
-    public static <T> Node getIcon(Task<T> task) {
-        return BackgroundTask.iconMap.getOrDefault(task).getTitle(), null);
+    public static Node getIcon(Object task) {
+        if (task instanceof Task) {
+            return BackgroundTask.iconMap.getOrDefault(((Task<?>) task).getTitle(), null);
+        }
+        return null;
     }
 
     static class BackgroundProgress {