diff --git a/layers.cpp b/layers.cpp
index 2eea79beae..ae08207504 100644
--- a/layers.cpp
+++ b/layers.cpp
@@ -668,23 +668,25 @@ ToplevelList Workspace::xStackingOrder() const
     foreach (Toplevel * c, stacking_order)
     x_stacking.append(c);
 
-    xcb_window_t *windows = tree.children();
-    const auto count = tree->children_len;
-    int foundUnmanagedCount = unmanaged.count();
-    for (unsigned int i = 0;
-            i < count;
-            ++i) {
-        for (auto it = unmanaged.constBegin(); it != unmanaged.constEnd(); ++it) {
-            Unmanaged *u = *it;
-            if (u->window() == windows[i]) {
-                x_stacking.append(u);
-                foundUnmanagedCount--;
+    if (!tree.isNull()) {
+        xcb_window_t *windows = tree.children();
+        const auto count = tree->children_len;
+        int foundUnmanagedCount = unmanaged.count();
+        for (unsigned int i = 0;
+                i < count;
+                ++i) {
+            for (auto it = unmanaged.constBegin(); it != unmanaged.constEnd(); ++it) {
+                Unmanaged *u = *it;
+                if (u->window() == windows[i]) {
+                    x_stacking.append(u);
+                    foundUnmanagedCount--;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            if (foundUnmanagedCount == 0) {
                 break;
             }
         }
-        if (foundUnmanagedCount == 0) {
-            break;
-        }
     }
     if (m_compositor) {
         const_cast< Workspace* >(this)->m_compositor->checkUnredirect();
diff --git a/xcbutils.h b/xcbutils.h
index 51c8f4a1ce..3d3880c996 100644
--- a/xcbutils.h
+++ b/xcbutils.h
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ public:
     explicit Tree(WindowId window) : Wrapper<TreeData, xcb_window_t>(window) {}
 
     inline WindowId *children() {
-        if (data()->children_len == 0) {
+        if (isNull() || data()->children_len == 0) {
             return nullptr;
         }
         return xcb_query_tree_children(data());