diff --git a/window.c b/window.c
index 1dd70c44..9a26b904 100644
--- a/window.c
+++ b/window.c
@@ -420,10 +420,15 @@ window_pane_active_set(struct window_pane *wp, struct window_pane *nextwp)
 void
 window_pane_active_lost(struct window_pane *wp, struct window_pane *nextwp)
 {
-	struct layout_cell	*lc, *lc2;
+	struct layout_cell	*lc, *lc2, *lcparent;
+
+	/* Get the parent cell. */
+	lcparent = nextwp->layout_cell->parent;
+	if (lcparent == NULL)
+		return;
 
 	/* Save the target pane in its parent. */
-	nextwp->layout_cell->parent->lastwp = nextwp;
+	lcparent->lastwp = nextwp;
 
 	/*
 	 * Save the source pane in all of its parents up to, but not including,
@@ -432,8 +437,7 @@ window_pane_active_lost(struct window_pane *wp, struct window_pane *nextwp)
 	if (wp == NULL)
 		return;
 	for (lc = wp->layout_cell->parent; lc != NULL; lc = lc->parent) {
-		lc2 = nextwp->layout_cell->parent;
-		for (; lc2 != NULL; lc2 = lc2->parent) {
+		for (lc2 = lcparent; lc2 != NULL; lc2 = lc2->parent) {
 			if (lc == lc2)
 				return;
 		}