diff --git a/src/layout/DwindleLayout.cpp b/src/layout/DwindleLayout.cpp
index 2c68b9a0b867..79235712f463 100644
--- a/src/layout/DwindleLayout.cpp
+++ b/src/layout/DwindleLayout.cpp
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ void CHyprDwindleLayout::onWindowCreatedTiling(CWindow* pWindow, eDirection dire
     // last fail-safe to avoid duplicate fullscreens
     if ((!OPENINGON || OPENINGON->pWindow == pWindow) && getNodesOnWorkspace(PNODE->workspaceID) > 1) {
         for (auto& node : m_lDwindleNodesData) {
-            if (node.workspaceID == PNODE->workspaceID && node.pWindow != pWindow) {
+            if (node.workspaceID == PNODE->workspaceID && node.pWindow != nullptr && node.pWindow != pWindow) {
                 OPENINGON = &node;
                 break;
             }