diff --git a/plugins/pager/pager.c b/plugins/pager/pager.c
index 27231936f53181668516843a8379ee9cb23844d8..2a4069c22d6a8e99717f06f84d0e81a8f6e570a2 100644
--- a/plugins/pager/pager.c
+++ b/plugins/pager/pager.c
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ pager_plugin_set_property (GObject      *object,
     case PROP_NUMBERING:
       plugin->numbering = g_value_get_boolean (value);
 
-      if (!plugin->miniature_view)
+      if (plugin->pager != NULL
+          && !plugin->miniature_view)
         pager_buttons_set_numbering (XFCE_PAGER_BUTTONS (plugin->pager), plugin->numbering);
       break;