diff --git a/src/gtk/window.cpp b/src/gtk/window.cpp
index 0285a47912..d535b232da 100644
--- a/src/gtk/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/window.cpp
@@ -4368,6 +4368,13 @@ bool wxWindowGTK::DoPopupMenu( wxMenu *menu, int x, int y )
                   gtk_get_current_event_time()
                 );
 
+    // it is possible for gtk_menu_popup() to fail
+    if (!gtk_widget_get_visible(GTK_WIDGET(menu->m_menu)))
+    {
+        menu->m_popupShown = false;
+        return false;
+    }
+
     while (menu->m_popupShown)
     {
         gtk_main_iteration();