diff --git a/src/aui/auibar.cpp b/src/aui/auibar.cpp
index 96707599fd..eaa93ed74a 100644
--- a/src/aui/auibar.cpp
+++ b/src/aui/auibar.cpp
@@ -1860,6 +1860,11 @@ bool wxAuiToolBar::Realize()
 
 bool wxAuiToolBar::RealizeHelper(wxClientDC& dc, bool horizontal)
 {
+    // Remove old sizer before adding any controls in this tool bar, which are
+    // elements of this sizer, to the new sizer below.
+    delete m_sizer;
+    m_sizer = NULL;
+
     // create the new sizer to add toolbar elements to
     wxBoxSizer* sizer = new wxBoxSizer(horizontal ? wxHORIZONTAL : wxVERTICAL);
 
@@ -2051,7 +2056,6 @@ bool wxAuiToolBar::RealizeHelper(wxClientDC& dc, bool horizontal)
             outside_sizer->Add(m_bottomPadding, 1);
     }
 
-    delete m_sizer; // remove old sizer
     m_sizer = outside_sizer;
 
     // calculate the rock-bottom minimum size