diff --git a/src/osx/window_osx.cpp b/src/osx/window_osx.cpp
index 89fa0cc19c..6bfe8e2a17 100644
--- a/src/osx/window_osx.cpp
+++ b/src/osx/window_osx.cpp
@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ void wxWindowMac::SetPeer(wxOSXWidgetImpl* peer)
         if ( !m_hasFont )
             DoSetWindowVariant( m_windowVariant );
         
-        GetPeer()->SetLabel( wxStripMenuCodes(m_label, wxStrip_Mnemonics), GetFont().GetEncoding() ) ;
+        if ( !m_label.empty() )
+            GetPeer()->SetLabel( wxStripMenuCodes(m_label, wxStrip_Mnemonics), GetFont().GetEncoding() ) ;
         
         // for controls we want to use best size for wxDefaultSize params )
         if ( !GetPeer()->IsUserPane() )