diff --git a/src/msw/menu.cpp b/src/msw/menu.cpp
index d1f777f816..07541b8554 100644
--- a/src/msw/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/menu.cpp
@@ -401,6 +401,9 @@ HBITMAP GetHBitmapForMenu(wxMenuItem *pItem, bool checked = true)
 
             return GetHbitmapOf(pItem->GetBitmap(checked));
         }
+        //else: bitmap is not set
+
+        return NULL;
     }
 #endif // wxUSE_IMAGE
 
@@ -518,18 +521,19 @@ bool wxMenu::DoInsertOrAppend(wxMenuItem *pItem, size_t pos)
             WinStruct<MENUITEMINFO> mii;
             mii.fMask = MIIM_STRING | MIIM_DATA;
 
-            if ( pItem->GetBitmap().IsOk() )
-            {
-                mii.fMask |= MIIM_BITMAP;
-                mii.hbmpItem = GetHBitmapForMenu(pItem);
-            }
-
+            // don't set hbmpItem for the checkable items as it would
+            // be used for both checked and unchecked state
             if ( pItem->IsCheckable() )
             {
                 mii.fMask |= MIIM_CHECKMARKS;
                 mii.hbmpChecked = GetHBitmapForMenu(pItem, true);
                 mii.hbmpUnchecked = GetHBitmapForMenu(pItem, false);
             }
+            else if ( pItem->GetBitmap().IsOk() )
+            {
+                mii.fMask |= MIIM_BITMAP;
+                mii.hbmpItem = GetHBitmapForMenu(pItem);
+            }
 
             mii.cch = itemText.length();
             mii.dwTypeData = const_cast<wxChar *>(itemText.wx_str());