--- a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java	
+++ a/src/ooxml/java/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/XSLFShape.java	
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ public abstract class XSLFShape implements Shape<XSLFShape,XSLFTextParagraph> {
 
     @Override
     public String getShapeName(){
-        return getCNvPr().getName();
+        CTNonVisualDrawingProps nonVisualDrawingProps = getCNvPr();
+        return nonVisualDrawingProps == null ? null : getCNvPr().getName();
     }
 
     @Override
--- a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/TestXSLFTableRow.java	
+++ a/src/ooxml/testcases/org/apache/poi/xslf/usermodel/TestXSLFTableRow.java	
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package org.apache.poi.xslf.usermodel;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
@@ -128,4 +129,22 @@ public class TestXSLFTableRow {
         assertNotNull(ctrow);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void getShapeNameOfCells() throws Exception {
+        try(XMLSlideShow ss1 = XSLFTestDataSamples.openSampleDocument("table_test.pptx")) {
+            for (XSLFSlide slide : ss1.getSlides()) {
+                for (XSLFShape shape : slide.getShapes()) {
+                    shape.getShapeName();
+                    if (shape instanceof XSLFTable) {
+                        for (XSLFTableRow row : ((XSLFTable) shape).getRows()) {
+                            for (XSLFTableCell cell : row.getCells()) {
+                                assertNull(cell.getShapeName()); // Do not throw NPE
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
 }