diff --git a/src/preferences/appearance/APRView.cpp b/src/preferences/appearance/APRView.cpp
index df9f7a7d89..9a2802f234 100644
--- a/src/preferences/appearance/APRView.cpp
+++ b/src/preferences/appearance/APRView.cpp
@@ -253,7 +253,8 @@ APRView::_CreateItems()
 		fAttrList->AddItem(new ColorWhichItem(text, which, ui_color(which)));
 	}
 
-	fAttrList->Select(0);
+	if (Window() != NULL)
+		fAttrList->Select(0);
 }