diff --git a/src/u_main.pas b/src/u_main.pas
index 4dd3d271..d811f47c 100644
--- a/src/u_main.pas
+++ b/src/u_main.pas
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ begin
     // group, group item has the focus
     grp := getProjectGroup();
     fProjectGroup := grp.groupFilename();
-    if fProjectGroup.isNotEmpty() and MainForm.fProj.inGroup() then
+    if fProjectGroup.isNotEmpty() and assigned(MainForm.fProj) and MainForm.fProj.inGroup() then
     begin
       fProjectIndex := grp.getProjectIndex();
       fProjectConfigIndex := MainForm.fProj.getActiveConfigurationIndex();