diff --git a/pd/nw/pdgui.js b/pd/nw/pdgui.js
index 4590cb4777c3be41bc94d485b14f31fe42a13c22..ba44893ce035aeafbed32a253edc5d77591b12cb 100644
--- a/pd/nw/pdgui.js
+++ b/pd/nw/pdgui.js
@@ -2296,7 +2296,9 @@ function gui_bng_button_color(cid, tag, color) {
     var button;
     if (patchwin[cid]) {
         button = get_item(cid, tag + "button");
-        configure_item(button, { fill: color });
+        if (button) {
+            configure_item(button, { fill: color });
+        }
     }
 }