diff --git a/src/gtk/frame.cpp b/src/gtk/frame.cpp
index 075ed1e7f6..c0631c4fce 100644
--- a/src/gtk/frame.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/frame.cpp
@@ -258,6 +258,10 @@ void wxFrame::OnSize( wxSizeEvent &WXUNUSED(event) )
   if ( GetAutoLayout() )
     Layout();
   else {
+    // no child: go out !
+    if (!GetChildren()->First())
+      return;
+
     // do we have exactly one child?
     wxWindow *child = NULL;
     for(wxNode *node = GetChildren()->First(); node; node = node->Next())
diff --git a/src/gtk1/frame.cpp b/src/gtk1/frame.cpp
index 075ed1e7f6..c0631c4fce 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/frame.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/frame.cpp
@@ -258,6 +258,10 @@ void wxFrame::OnSize( wxSizeEvent &WXUNUSED(event) )
   if ( GetAutoLayout() )
     Layout();
   else {
+    // no child: go out !
+    if (!GetChildren()->First())
+      return;
+
     // do we have exactly one child?
     wxWindow *child = NULL;
     for(wxNode *node = GetChildren()->First(); node; node = node->Next())