diff --git a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
index db47dceec3..3473ccd023 100644
--- a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
+++ b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizer()
     wxXmlNode *parentNode = m_node->GetParent();
 
     wxCHECK_MSG(m_parentSizer != NULL ||
-                (parentNode->GetType() == wxXML_ELEMENT_NODE &&
+                (parentNode && parentNode->GetType() == wxXML_ELEMENT_NODE &&
                  m_parentAsWindow != NULL &&
                  (m_parentAsWindow->IsKindOf(CLASSINFO(wxPanel)) ||
                   m_parentAsWindow->IsKindOf(CLASSINFO(wxFrame)) ||
diff --git a/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp b/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
index db47dceec3..3473ccd023 100644
--- a/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
+++ b/src/xrc/xh_sizer.cpp
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ wxObject* wxSizerXmlHandler::Handle_sizer()
     wxXmlNode *parentNode = m_node->GetParent();
 
     wxCHECK_MSG(m_parentSizer != NULL ||
-                (parentNode->GetType() == wxXML_ELEMENT_NODE &&
+                (parentNode && parentNode->GetType() == wxXML_ELEMENT_NODE &&
                  m_parentAsWindow != NULL &&
                  (m_parentAsWindow->IsKindOf(CLASSINFO(wxPanel)) ||
                   m_parentAsWindow->IsKindOf(CLASSINFO(wxFrame)) ||