diff --git a/src/st/st-widget.c b/src/st/st-widget.c
index 42992ece7..4875acc20 100644
--- a/src/st/st-widget.c
+++ b/src/st/st-widget.c
@@ -608,8 +608,9 @@ st_widget_get_theme_node (StWidget *widget)
 
       if (stage == NULL)
         {
-          g_error ("st_widget_get_theme_node called on the widget %s which is not in the stage.",
-                    st_describe_actor (CLUTTER_ACTOR (widget)));
+          g_critical ("st_widget_get_theme_node called on the widget %s which is not in the stage.",
+                      st_describe_actor (CLUTTER_ACTOR (widget)));
+          return g_object_new (ST_TYPE_THEME_NODE, NULL);
         }
 
       if (parent_node == NULL)