diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
index 56919c827..2b3c03ae2 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-stage.c
@@ -3790,6 +3790,7 @@ clutter_stage_grab (ClutterStage *stage,
 
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_STAGE (stage), NULL);
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR (actor), NULL);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (clutter_actor_is_realized (actor), NULL);
 
   priv = stage->priv;