diff --git a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
index a31db982a4..60e1a894fe 100644
--- a/contrib/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
+++ b/contrib/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ wxObject *wxStatusBarXmlHandler::DoCreateResource()
     int fields = GetLong(wxT("fields"), 1);
     wxString widths = GetParamValue(wxT("widths"));
 
-    if(fields > 1)
+    if (fields > 1 && !widths.IsEmpty())
     {
         int *width = new int[fields];
 
diff --git a/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp b/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
index a31db982a4..60e1a894fe 100644
--- a/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
+++ b/src/xrc/xh_statbar.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ wxObject *wxStatusBarXmlHandler::DoCreateResource()
     int fields = GetLong(wxT("fields"), 1);
     wxString widths = GetParamValue(wxT("widths"));
 
-    if(fields > 1)
+    if (fields > 1 && !widths.IsEmpty())
     {
         int *width = new int[fields];