diff --git a/ui/gtk.c b/ui/gtk.c
index 6a81076ffc..51abac9f47 100644
--- a/ui/gtk.c
+++ b/ui/gtk.c
@@ -294,6 +294,10 @@ static void gd_update_cursor(VirtualConsole *vc)
         return;
     }
 
+    if (!gtk_widget_get_realized(vc->gfx.drawing_area)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     window = gtk_widget_get_window(GTK_WIDGET(vc->gfx.drawing_area));
     if (s->full_screen || qemu_input_is_absolute() || s->ptr_owner == vc) {
         gdk_window_set_cursor(window, s->null_cursor);
@@ -458,6 +462,10 @@ static void gd_update(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
 
     trace_gd_update(vc->label, x, y, w, h);
 
+    if (!gtk_widget_get_realized(vc->gfx.drawing_area)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (vc->gfx.convert) {
         pixman_image_composite(PIXMAN_OP_SRC, vc->gfx.ds->image,
                                NULL, vc->gfx.convert,
@@ -540,6 +548,10 @@ static void gd_cursor_define(DisplayChangeListener *dcl,
     GdkPixbuf *pixbuf;
     GdkCursor *cursor;
 
+    if (!gtk_widget_get_realized(vc->gfx.drawing_area)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     pixbuf = gdk_pixbuf_new_from_data((guchar *)(c->data),
                                       GDK_COLORSPACE_RGB, true, 8,
                                       c->width, c->height, c->width * 4,