diff --git a/samples/widgets/widgets.cpp b/samples/widgets/widgets.cpp
index 3e17c1ae5e..440cbcf32e 100644
--- a/samples/widgets/widgets.cpp
+++ b/samples/widgets/widgets.cpp
@@ -578,7 +578,9 @@ void WidgetsFrame::InitBook()
 
     // but ensure that the top of the tree is shown nevertheless
     wxTreeCtrl * const tree = m_book->GetTreeCtrl();
-    tree->EnsureVisible(tree->GetRootItem());
+
+    wxTreeItemIdValue cookie;
+    tree->EnsureVisible(tree->GetFirstChild(tree->GetRootItem(), cookie));
 #endif // USE_TREEBOOK
 }