diff --git a/src/core/piano.cpp b/src/core/piano.cpp
index b80550bb5..aa50940c7 100644
--- a/src/core/piano.cpp
+++ b/src/core/piano.cpp
@@ -719,6 +719,7 @@ void pianoView::focusOutEvent( QFocusEvent * )
 	// focus just switched to another control inside the instrument track
 	// window we live in?
 	if( parentWidget()->parentWidget()->focusWidget() != this &&
+		parentWidget()->parentWidget()->focusWidget() != NULL &&
 		!parentWidget()->parentWidget()->
 				focusWidget()->inherits( "QLineEdit" ) )
 	{