diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index b5779afb0b..ba32a67731 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ Changes in behaviour which may result in build errors
 All (GUI):
 
 - Fix wxInfoBar close button size in high DPI (Stefan Ziegler).
+- Make disabling the window before creating it actually work.
 
 
 3.1.2: (released 2018-12-10)
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/anybutton.h b/include/wx/gtk/anybutton.h
index ad0357a659..0b149ec085 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/anybutton.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/anybutton.h
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ public:
         m_isPressed = false;
     }
 
-    virtual bool Enable( bool enable = true ) wxOVERRIDE;
-
     // implementation
     // --------------
 
@@ -41,6 +39,8 @@ public:
 protected:
     virtual GdkWindow *GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& windows) const wxOVERRIDE;
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
     virtual wxBitmap DoGetBitmap(State which) const wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual void DoSetBitmap(const wxBitmap& bitmap, State which) wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual void DoSetBitmapPosition(wxDirection dir) wxOVERRIDE;
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/checkbox.h b/include/wx/gtk/checkbox.h
index 8068f0b556..e16bc4f3ff 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/checkbox.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/checkbox.h
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ public:
     bool GetValue() const wxOVERRIDE;
 
     virtual void SetLabel( const wxString& label ) wxOVERRIDE;
-    virtual bool Enable( bool enable = true ) wxOVERRIDE;
 
     static wxVisualAttributes
     GetClassDefaultAttributes(wxWindowVariant variant = wxWINDOW_VARIANT_NORMAL);
@@ -52,6 +51,8 @@ protected:
     virtual void DoApplyWidgetStyle(GtkRcStyle *style) wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual GdkWindow *GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& windows) const wxOVERRIDE;
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
     void DoSet3StateValue(wxCheckBoxState state) wxOVERRIDE;
     wxCheckBoxState DoGet3StateValue() const wxOVERRIDE;
 
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/radiobox.h b/include/wx/gtk/radiobox.h
index 9e7df61a93..f38f82a599 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/radiobox.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/radiobox.h
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ protected:
     virtual void DoApplyWidgetStyle(GtkRcStyle *style) wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual GdkWindow *GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& windows) const wxOVERRIDE;
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
     virtual bool GTKNeedsToFilterSameWindowFocus() const wxOVERRIDE { return true; }
 
     virtual bool GTKWidgetNeedsMnemonic() const wxOVERRIDE;
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/radiobut.h b/include/wx/gtk/radiobut.h
index 340c671c1e..7ef6a6a162 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/radiobut.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/radiobut.h
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ public:
     virtual void SetLabel(const wxString& label) wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual void SetValue(bool val);
     virtual bool GetValue() const;
-    virtual bool Enable( bool enable = true ) wxOVERRIDE;
 
     static wxVisualAttributes
     GetClassDefaultAttributes(wxWindowVariant variant = wxWINDOW_VARIANT_NORMAL);
@@ -52,6 +51,8 @@ protected:
     virtual void DoApplyWidgetStyle(GtkRcStyle *style) wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual GdkWindow *GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& windows) const wxOVERRIDE;
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
 private:
     typedef wxControl base_type;
 
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/spinbutt.h b/include/wx/gtk/spinbutt.h
index ae974200b7..437198173c 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/spinbutt.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/spinbutt.h
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ public:
     static wxVisualAttributes
     GetClassDefaultAttributes(wxWindowVariant variant = wxWINDOW_VARIANT_NORMAL);
 
-    virtual bool Enable( bool enable = true ) wxOVERRIDE;
-
     // implementation
     int m_pos;
 
@@ -56,6 +54,8 @@ protected:
     virtual wxSize DoGetBestSize() const wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual GdkWindow *GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& windows) const wxOVERRIDE;
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
 private:
     typedef wxSpinButtonBase base_type;
 
diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/textctrl.h b/include/wx/gtk/textctrl.h
index f27d38cfa7..d411188a66 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/textctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/textctrl.h
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ public:
 
     // Overridden wxWindow methods
     virtual void SetWindowStyleFlag( long style ) wxOVERRIDE;
-    virtual bool Enable( bool enable = true ) wxOVERRIDE;
 
     // Implementation from now on
     void OnDropFiles( wxDropFilesEvent &event );
@@ -178,6 +177,8 @@ protected:
 private:
     void Init();
 
+    virtual void DoEnable(bool enable) wxOVERRIDE;
+
     // overridden wxTextEntry virtual methods
     virtual GtkEditable *GetEditable() const wxOVERRIDE;
     virtual GtkEntry *GetEntry() const wxOVERRIDE;
diff --git a/interface/wx/window.h b/interface/wx/window.h
index 97184e1c28..64b3c1d58d 100644
--- a/interface/wx/window.h
+++ b/interface/wx/window.h
@@ -2834,6 +2834,14 @@ public:
         disabled, all of its children are disabled as well and they are reenabled again
         when the parent is.
 
+        A window can be created initially disabled by calling this method on it
+        @e before calling Create() to create the actual underlying window, e.g.
+        @code
+            wxWindow* w = new MyWindow(); // Note: default ctor is used here.
+            w->Enable(false);
+            w->Create(parent, ... all the usual non-default ctor arguments ...);
+        @endcode
+
         @param enable
             If @true, enables the window for input. If @false, disables the window.
 
diff --git a/src/gtk/anybutton.cpp b/src/gtk/anybutton.cpp
index 0742eed15f..9859016a37 100644
--- a/src/gtk/anybutton.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/anybutton.cpp
@@ -69,10 +69,13 @@ wxgtk_button_released_callback(GtkWidget *WXUNUSED(widget), wxAnyButton *button)
 // wxAnyButton
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-bool wxAnyButton::Enable( bool enable )
+void wxAnyButton::DoEnable(bool enable)
 {
-    if (!base_type::Enable(enable))
-        return false;
+    // See wxWindow::DoEnable()
+    if ( !m_widget )
+        return;
+
+    base_type::DoEnable(enable);
 
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive(gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(m_widget)), enable);
 
@@ -80,8 +83,6 @@ bool wxAnyButton::Enable( bool enable )
         GTKFixSensitivity();
 
     GTKUpdateBitmap();
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 GdkWindow *wxAnyButton::GTKGetWindow(wxArrayGdkWindows& WXUNUSED(windows)) const
diff --git a/src/gtk/checkbox.cpp b/src/gtk/checkbox.cpp
index 401f94358d..d11c7ef205 100644
--- a/src/gtk/checkbox.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/checkbox.cpp
@@ -222,17 +222,17 @@ void wxCheckBox::SetLabel( const wxString& label )
     GTKSetLabelForLabel(GTK_LABEL(m_widgetLabel), label);
 }
 
-bool wxCheckBox::Enable( bool enable )
+void wxCheckBox::DoEnable(bool enable)
 {
-    if (!base_type::Enable(enable))
-        return false;
+    if ( !m_widgetLabel )
+        return;
+
+    base_type::DoEnable(enable);
 
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive( m_widgetLabel, enable );
 
     if (enable)
         GTKFixSensitivity();
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void wxCheckBox::DoApplyWidgetStyle(GtkRcStyle *style)
diff --git a/src/gtk/radiobox.cpp b/src/gtk/radiobox.cpp
index b75e127ecd..c93fde74d2 100644
--- a/src/gtk/radiobox.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/radiobox.cpp
@@ -487,8 +487,18 @@ void wxRadioBox::SetString(unsigned int item, const wxString& label)
 
 bool wxRadioBox::Enable( bool enable )
 {
-    if ( !wxControl::Enable( enable ) )
-        return false;
+    // Explicitly forward to the base class just because we need to override
+    // this function to prevent it from being hidden by Enable(int, bool)
+    // overload.
+    return wxControl::Enable(enable);
+}
+
+void wxRadioBox::DoEnable(bool enable)
+{
+    if ( !m_widget )
+        return;
+
+    wxControl::DoEnable(enable);
 
     wxRadioBoxButtonsInfoList::compatibility_iterator node = m_buttonsInfo.GetFirst();
     while (node)
@@ -503,8 +513,6 @@ bool wxRadioBox::Enable( bool enable )
 
     if (enable)
         GTKFixSensitivity();
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 bool wxRadioBox::Enable(unsigned int item, bool enable)
diff --git a/src/gtk/radiobut.cpp b/src/gtk/radiobut.cpp
index 9b87a178ad..b77a52cdd6 100644
--- a/src/gtk/radiobut.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/radiobut.cpp
@@ -149,17 +149,17 @@ bool wxRadioButton::GetValue() const
     return gtk_toggle_button_get_active(GTK_TOGGLE_BUTTON(m_widget)) != 0;
 }
 
-bool wxRadioButton::Enable( bool enable )
+void wxRadioButton::DoEnable(bool enable)
 {
-    if (!base_type::Enable(enable))
-        return false;
+    if ( !m_widget )
+        return;
+
+    base_type::DoEnable(enable);
 
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive(gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(m_widget)), enable);
 
     if (enable)
         GTKFixSensitivity();
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void wxRadioButton::DoApplyWidgetStyle(GtkRcStyle *style)
diff --git a/src/gtk/spinbutt.cpp b/src/gtk/spinbutt.cpp
index a0a3ebef55..56f86fb1f0 100644
--- a/src/gtk/spinbutt.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/spinbutt.cpp
@@ -173,16 +173,16 @@ void wxSpinButton::SetRange(int minVal, int maxVal)
     GtkEnableEvents();
 }
 
-bool wxSpinButton::Enable( bool enable )
+void wxSpinButton::DoEnable(bool enable)
 {
-    if (!base_type::Enable(enable))
-        return false;
+    if ( !m_widget )
+        return;
+
+    base_type::DoEnable(enable);
 
     // Work around lack of visual update when enabling
     if (enable)
         GTKFixSensitivity(false /* fix even if not under mouse */);
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void wxSpinButton::GtkDisableEvents() const
diff --git a/src/gtk/textctrl.cpp b/src/gtk/textctrl.cpp
index b8551d37c7..fe47602ac6 100644
--- a/src/gtk/textctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/textctrl.cpp
@@ -1350,17 +1350,14 @@ void wxTextCtrl::SetEditable( bool editable )
     }
 }
 
-bool wxTextCtrl::Enable( bool enable )
+void wxTextCtrl::DoEnable(bool enable)
 {
-    if (!wxWindowBase::Enable(enable))
-    {
-        // nothing to do
-        return false;
-    }
+    if ( !m_text )
+        return;
+
+    wxTextCtrlBase::DoEnable(enable);
 
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive( m_text, enable );
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void wxTextCtrl::MarkDirty()
diff --git a/src/gtk/window.cpp b/src/gtk/window.cpp
index e440422ab7..32340aaa62 100644
--- a/src/gtk/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/window.cpp
@@ -2913,6 +2913,11 @@ void wxWindowGTK::PostCreation()
 
     SetLayoutDirection(wxLayout_Default);
 
+    // if the window had been disabled before being created, it should be
+    // created in the initially disabled state
+    if ( !m_isEnabled )
+        DoEnable(false);
+
     // unless the window was created initially hidden (i.e. Hide() had been
     // called before Create()), we should show it at GTK+ level as well
     if (m_isShown)
@@ -4196,7 +4201,12 @@ bool wxWindowGTK::IsShown() const
 
 void wxWindowGTK::DoEnable( bool enable )
 {
-    wxCHECK_RET( (m_widget != NULL), wxT("invalid window") );
+    if ( !m_widget )
+    {
+        // The window can be disabled before being created, so just don't do
+        // anything in this case and, in particular, don't assert.
+        return;
+    }
 
     gtk_widget_set_sensitive( m_widget, enable );
     if (m_wxwindow && (m_wxwindow != m_widget))
diff --git a/src/msw/window.cpp b/src/msw/window.cpp
index e17b851b59..609f6e8c19 100644
--- a/src/msw/window.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/window.cpp
@@ -1518,6 +1518,9 @@ WXDWORD wxWindowMSW::MSWGetStyle(long flags, WXDWORD *exstyle) const
     // wxTopLevelWindow) should remove WS_CHILD in their MSWGetStyle()
     WXDWORD style = WS_CHILD;
 
+    if ( !IsThisEnabled() )
+        style |= WS_DISABLED;
+
     // using this flag results in very significant reduction in flicker,
     // especially with controls inside the static boxes (as the interior of the
     // box is not redrawn twice), but sometimes results in redraw problems, so
diff --git a/tests/controls/buttontest.cpp b/tests/controls/buttontest.cpp
index 764de5b28e..4f84523828 100644
--- a/tests/controls/buttontest.cpp
+++ b/tests/controls/buttontest.cpp
@@ -102,8 +102,21 @@ void ButtonTestCase::Disabled()
 
     wxUIActionSimulator sim;
 
-    //In this test we disable the button and check events are not sent
-    m_button->Disable();
+    // In this test we disable the button and check events are not sent and we
+    // do it once by disabling the previously enabled button and once by
+    // creating the button in the disabled state.
+    SECTION("Disable after creation")
+    {
+        m_button->Disable();
+    }
+
+    SECTION("Create disabled")
+    {
+        delete m_button;
+        m_button = new wxButton();
+        m_button->Disable();
+        m_button->Create(wxTheApp->GetTopWindow(), wxID_ANY, "wxButton");
+    }
 
     sim.MouseMove(m_button->GetScreenPosition() + wxPoint(10, 10));
     wxYield();