diff --git a/src/msw/window.cpp b/src/msw/window.cpp
index b1e1178792..5fed10ca6c 100644
--- a/src/msw/window.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/window.cpp
@@ -675,7 +675,8 @@ wxWindowMSW::MSWShowWithEffect(bool show,
                                unsigned timeout)
 {
 #if wxUSE_DYNLIB_CLASS
-    if ( effect == wxSHOW_EFFECT_NONE || !IsShownOnScreen() )
+    if ( effect == wxSHOW_EFFECT_NONE ||
+            (GetParent() && !GetParent()->IsShownOnScreen()) )
         return Show(show);
 
     if ( !wxWindowBase::Show(show) )