diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index 17158c289b..bdffa04ad9 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -3585,7 +3585,7 @@ _gtk_widget_emulate_press (GtkWidget      *widget,
   next_child = event_widget;
   parent = _gtk_widget_get_parent (next_child);
 
-  while (parent != widget)
+  while (parent && parent != widget)
     {
       next_child = parent;
       parent = _gtk_widget_get_parent (parent);