diff --git a/src/common/wincmn.cpp b/src/common/wincmn.cpp
index b949bbfebc..cad8c190bf 100644
--- a/src/common/wincmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/wincmn.cpp
@@ -2033,17 +2033,18 @@ public:
     // grandchildren, calling OnRecurse() for them.
     bool DoForSelfAndChildren()
     {
+        wxValidator* const validator = m_win->GetValidator();
+        if ( validator && !OnDo(validator) )
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         wxWindowList& children = m_win->GetChildren();
         for ( wxWindowList::iterator i = children.begin();
               i != children.end();
               ++i )
         {
             wxWindow* const child = static_cast<wxWindow*>(*i);
-            wxValidator* const validator = child->GetValidator();
-            if ( validator && !OnDo(validator) )
-            {
-                return false;
-            }
 
             // Notice that validation should never recurse into top level
             // children, e.g. some other dialog which might happen to be