diff --git a/src/common/image.cpp b/src/common/image.cpp
index 98037f9c39..51a93e108e 100644
--- a/src/common/image.cpp
+++ b/src/common/image.cpp
@@ -2185,6 +2185,9 @@ unsigned char *wxImage::GetAlpha() const
 
 void wxImage::InitAlpha()
 {
+    if (!IsOk())
+        return;
+
     wxCHECK_RET( !HasAlpha(), wxT("image already has an alpha channel") );
 
     // initialize memory for alpha channel