diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
index 332374244..5a0e0ee15 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ subsurface_role_get_toplevel (MetaWaylandSurfaceRole *surface_role)
     meta_wayland_surface_role_get_surface (surface_role);
   MetaWaylandSurface *parent = surface->sub.parent;
 
-  if (parent->role)
+  if (parent && parent->role)
     return meta_wayland_surface_role_get_toplevel (parent->role);
   else
     return NULL;