Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/FollowLineAction.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/FollowLineAction.java	(revision 18958)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/FollowLineAction.java	(revision 18959)
@@ -84,4 +84,6 @@
             prev = follower.getNode(follower.getNodesCount() - 2);
             reversed = false;
+        } else if (!follower.firstNode().equals(last)) {
+            return; // see #23442
         }
         List<OsmPrimitive> referrers = last.getReferrers();