diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index a928f7ea0a..ce73637746 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -6287,7 +6287,7 @@ gtk_widget_is_sensitive (GtkWidget *widget)
   g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget), FALSE);
 
   return (gtk_widget_get_sensitive (widget) &&
-          gtk_widget_get_sensitive (widget->parent));
+          (GTK_OBJECT_FLAGS (widget) & GTK_PARENT_SENSITIVE) != 0);
 }
 
 /**