diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index defbc43fd..a97b69e71 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ class Pane extends Model
     @emitter.emit 'did-destroy'
     @emitter.dispose()
     item.destroy?() for item in @items.slice()
-    @container.didDestroyPane(pane: this)
+    @container?.didDestroyPane(pane: this)
 
   ###
   Section: Splitting