diff --git a/gtk/gtkimcontextime.c b/gtk/gtkimcontextime.c
index 70f54ed1be..8b08d7179d 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkimcontextime.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkimcontextime.c
@@ -255,7 +255,10 @@ gtk_im_context_ime_set_client_widget (GtkIMContext *context,
 
   g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_IM_CONTEXT_IME (context));
   context_ime = GTK_IM_CONTEXT_IME (context);
-  client_surface = gtk_native_get_surface (gtk_widget_get_native (widget));
+
+  client_surface = NULL;
+  if (widget)
+    client_surface = gtk_native_get_surface (gtk_widget_get_native (widget));
 
   if (client_surface)
     {