diff --git a/src/kernel/qwidget.cpp b/src/kernel/qwidget.cpp
index ab36c427..e37fa303 100644
--- a/src/kernel/qwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/qwidget.cpp
@@ -5984,9 +5984,9 @@ TQWidget  *TQWidget::childAt( const TQPoint & p, bool includeThis ) const
 
 void TQWidget::updateGeometry()
 {
-    if ( !isTopLevel() && isShown() )
-	TQApplication::postEvent( parentWidget(),
-				 new TQEvent( TQEvent::LayoutHint ) );
+  TQWidget *parent = parentWidget();
+  if (parent && !isTopLevel() && isShown())
+	  TQApplication::postEvent(parent, new TQEvent(TQEvent::LayoutHint));
 }