public TreeNode rebaseNode(TreeNode treeNode, Scope scope) throws Exception { if (treeNode == null || treeNode.getNode() == null) { return null; } UserNode userNode = treeNode.getNode(); if (userNode.getId() == null) { // Transient node return treeNode; } userPortal.rebaseNode(userNode, scope, getRootNode()); // this line return null if node has been deleted return findNode(treeNode.getId()); }