diff --git a/src/mac/carbon/textctrl.cpp b/src/mac/carbon/textctrl.cpp
index a599a624e3..183c86981c 100644
--- a/src/mac/carbon/textctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/carbon/textctrl.cpp
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ static pascal ControlPartCode TPPaneFocusProc(ControlHandle theControl, ControlF
         /* set up locals */
     focusResult = kControlFocusNoPart;
     tpvars = (STPTextPaneVars **) GetControlReference(theControl);
-    if (tpvars != NULL) {
+    if (tpvars != NULL && IsControlVisible( theControl ) ) {
         state = HGetState((Handle) tpvars);
         HLock((Handle) tpvars);
         varsp = *tpvars;
diff --git a/src/mac/textctrl.cpp b/src/mac/textctrl.cpp
index a599a624e3..183c86981c 100644
--- a/src/mac/textctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/textctrl.cpp
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ static pascal ControlPartCode TPPaneFocusProc(ControlHandle theControl, ControlF
         /* set up locals */
     focusResult = kControlFocusNoPart;
     tpvars = (STPTextPaneVars **) GetControlReference(theControl);
-    if (tpvars != NULL) {
+    if (tpvars != NULL && IsControlVisible( theControl ) ) {
         state = HGetState((Handle) tpvars);
         HLock((Handle) tpvars);
         varsp = *tpvars;