diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/mdi.h b/include/wx/gtk/mdi.h
index d4d65c0439..dcb4b01d15 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/mdi.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/mdi.h
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ public:
 
     void OnActivate( wxActivateEvent& event );
     void OnMenuHighlight( wxMenuEvent& event );
+    virtual void GTKHandleRealized();
 
     wxMenuBar         *m_menuBar;
     bool               m_justInserted;
diff --git a/src/gtk/mdi.cpp b/src/gtk/mdi.cpp
index 760a4ac4ef..bd97417ddd 100644
--- a/src/gtk/mdi.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/mdi.cpp
@@ -294,6 +294,12 @@ wxMDIChildFrame::~wxMDIChildFrame()
         gtk_widget_queue_draw(m_parent->m_widget);
 }
 
+void wxMDIChildFrame::GTKHandleRealized()
+{
+    // since m_widget is not a GtkWindow, must bypass wxTopLevelWindowGTK
+    wxTopLevelWindowBase::GTKHandleRealized();
+}
+
 void wxMDIChildFrame::SetMenuBar( wxMenuBar *menu_bar )
 {
     wxASSERT_MSG( m_menuBar == NULL, "Only one menubar allowed" );