diff --git a/hw/xwin/winmultiwindowicons.c b/hw/xwin/winmultiwindowicons.c
index bcc5688df..0531ad6c7 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/winmultiwindowicons.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/winmultiwindowicons.c
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ NetWMToWinIconAlpha(uint32_t * icon)
                                    DIB_RGB_COLORS, (void **) &DIB_pixels, NULL,
                                    0);
     ReleaseDC(NULL, hdc);
+
+    if (!ii.hbmColor)
+      return NULL;
+
     ii.hbmMask = CreateBitmap(width, height, 1, 1, NULL);
     memcpy(DIB_pixels, pixels, height * width * 4);