diff --git a/src/common/valtext.cpp b/src/common/valtext.cpp
index 530772a890..90627aa28d 100644
--- a/src/common/valtext.cpp
+++ b/src/common/valtext.cpp
@@ -206,6 +206,9 @@ bool wxTextValidator::TransferToWindow(void)
     if( !CheckValidator() )
         return FALSE;
 
+    if (!m_stringValue)
+        return TRUE;
+
     wxTextCtrl *control = (wxTextCtrl *) m_validatorWindow ;
     control->SetValue(* m_stringValue) ;
 
@@ -218,6 +221,9 @@ bool wxTextValidator::TransferFromWindow(void)
     if( !CheckValidator() )
         return FALSE;
 
+    if (!m_stringValue)
+        return TRUE;
+
     wxTextCtrl *control = (wxTextCtrl *) m_validatorWindow ;
     * m_stringValue = control->GetValue() ;