diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
index 21b7917b0..be55259cc 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
@@ -2931,6 +2931,7 @@ MainWindow::close_view (int index)
 
         //  last view closed
 
+        lay::LayoutView::set_current (0);
         current_view_changed ();
 
         clear_current_pos ();