diff --git a/src/mac/carbon/bitmap.cpp b/src/mac/carbon/bitmap.cpp
index 7cd5989cde..8ae71b1ca0 100644
--- a/src/mac/carbon/bitmap.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/carbon/bitmap.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ void wxMacReleaseBitmapButton( ControlButtonContentInfo*info )
     {
         ReleaseIconRef( info->u.iconRef ) ;
     }
+    else if ( info->contentType == kControlNoContent )
+    {
+        // there's no bitmap at all, fall through silently
+    }
     else if ( info->contentType == kControlContentPictHandle )
     {
         // owned by the bitmap, no release here