diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
index 0335c88e41a..e8ebda602da 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ Returns the display name of the layer.
 
     virtual QgsDataProvider *dataProvider();
 %Docstring
-Returns the layer's data provider.
+Returns the layer's data provider, it may be null.
 %End
 
 
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
index fe16f9c3284..00f53ef5ed7 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
@@ -232,12 +232,12 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMapLayer : public QObject
     QString name() const;
 
     /**
-     * Returns the layer's data provider.
+     * Returns the layer's data provider, it may be null.
      */
     virtual QgsDataProvider *dataProvider();
 
     /**
-     * Returns the layer's data provider in a const-correct manner
+     * Returns the layer's data provider in a const-correct manner, it may be null.
      * \note not available in Python bindings
      */
     virtual const QgsDataProvider *dataProvider() const SIP_SKIP;