diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
index 54cdcc9e2..5ce2b397c 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
@@ -594,7 +594,10 @@ subsurface_role_get_toplevel (MetaWaylandSurfaceRole *surface_role)
     meta_wayland_surface_role_get_surface (surface_role);
   MetaWaylandSurface *parent = surface->sub.parent;
 
-  return meta_wayland_surface_role_get_toplevel (parent->role);
+  if (parent->role)
+    return meta_wayland_surface_role_get_toplevel (parent->role);
+  else
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 /* A non-subsurface is always desynchronized.