diff --git a/ui/sdl2-gl.c b/ui/sdl2-gl.c
index 39cab8cde7..bbfa70eac3 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2-gl.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2-gl.c
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ void sdl2_gl_update(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 
     assert(scon->opengl);
 
+    if (!scon->real_window) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     SDL_GL_MakeCurrent(scon->real_window, scon->winctx);
     surface_gl_update_texture(scon->gls, scon->surface, x, y, w, h);
     scon->updates++;