diff --git a/src/osx/carbon/clipbrd.cpp b/src/osx/carbon/clipbrd.cpp
index fd8e9a6d45..293173c9ec 100644
--- a/src/osx/carbon/clipbrd.cpp
+++ b/src/osx/carbon/clipbrd.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ void wxClipboard::Clear()
 {
     wxDELETE(m_data);
 
+    wxCHECK_RET( m_pasteboard, "Clipboard creation failed." );
+
     OSStatus err = PasteboardClear( m_pasteboard );
     if (err != noErr)
     {