diff --git a/src/generic/gridctrl.cpp b/src/generic/gridctrl.cpp
index 4e9dcd6e48..beeea9d250 100644
--- a/src/generic/gridctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/gridctrl.cpp
@@ -301,6 +301,11 @@ wxGridCellAutoWrapStringRenderer::GetTextLines(wxGrid& grid,
     const wxArrayString
         logicalLines = wxSplit(grid.GetCellValue(row, col), '\n', '\0');
 
+    // Trying to do anything if the column is hidden anyhow doesn't make sense
+    // and we run into problems in BreakLine() in this case.
+    if ( maxWidth <= 0 )
+        return logicalLines;
+
     wxArrayString physicalLines;
     for ( wxArrayString::const_iterator it = logicalLines.begin();
           it != logicalLines.end();