diff --git a/src/qt/menuitem.cpp b/src/qt/menuitem.cpp
index fa729e33de..59f82e32a2 100644
--- a/src/qt/menuitem.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/menuitem.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@ void wxMenuItem::SetBitmap(const wxBitmap& bitmap)
     if ( m_kind == wxITEM_NORMAL )
     {
         m_bitmap = bitmap;
-        m_qtAction->setIcon( QIcon( *m_bitmap.GetHandle() ) );
+        if ( !m_bitmap.IsNull() )
+        {
+            m_qtAction->setIcon( QIcon(*m_bitmap.GetHandle()) );
+        }
     }
     else
     {