diff --git a/src/servers/app/WinBorder.cpp b/src/servers/app/WinBorder.cpp
index ea8d6182bc..b3dbc4ac4d 100644
--- a/src/servers/app/WinBorder.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/app/WinBorder.cpp
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ WinBorder::WinBorder(const BRect &frame,
 		uint16 width, height;
 		uint32 colorSpace;
 		float frequency;
+		if (GetRootLayer() == NULL)
+			debugger("WinBorder: no root layer");
+		if (GetRootLayer()->GetDesktop() == NULL)
+			debugger("WinBorder: no desktop");
 		if (GetRootLayer()->GetDesktop()->ScreenAt(0)) {
 			GetRootLayer()->GetDesktop()->ScreenAt(0)->GetMode(width, height, colorSpace, frequency);
 			_ResizeBy(width - frame.Width(), height - frame.Height());