diff --git a/rtgui/rtwindow.cc b/rtgui/rtwindow.cc
index 7f87d4ec4..baa44cabe 100755
--- a/rtgui/rtwindow.cc
+++ b/rtgui/rtwindow.cc
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ bool RTWindow::keyPressed (GdkEventKey* event)
 
 bool RTWindow::keyReleased(GdkEventKey *event)
 {
-    if (mainNB->get_current_page() == mainNB->page_num(*fpanel)) {
+    if (fpanel && mainNB->get_current_page() == mainNB->page_num(*fpanel)) {
         return fpanel->handleShortcutKeyRelease(event);
     }
     return false;