diff --git a/src/message_window.py b/src/message_window.py
index 999509ed0..e42434537 100644
--- a/src/message_window.py
+++ b/src/message_window.py
@@ -623,7 +623,10 @@ class MessageWindow(object):
             self.notebook.set_show_tabs(show_tabs_if_one_tab)
 
     def redraw_tab(self, ctrl, chatstate = None):
-        hbox = self.notebook.get_tab_label(ctrl.widget).get_children()[0]
+        tab = self.notebook.get_tab_label(ctrl.widget)
+        if not tab:
+            return
+        hbox = tab.get_children()[0]
         status_img = hbox.get_children()[0]
         nick_label = hbox.get_children()[1]