diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layLayoutView.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layLayoutView.cc
index 44d534acf..91d0fe807 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layLayoutView.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layLayoutView.cc
@@ -4739,7 +4739,9 @@ LayoutView::active_library_changed (int /*index*/)
 void
 LayoutView::cellview_changed (unsigned int index)
 {
-  mp_hierarchy_panel->do_update_content (index);
+  if (mp_hierarchy_panel) {
+    mp_hierarchy_panel->do_update_content (index);
+  }
 
   cellview_changed_event (index);