diff --git a/collects/framework/private/canvas.rkt b/collects/framework/private/canvas.rkt
index 42a07879..666dd44c 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/canvas.rkt
+++ b/collects/framework/private/canvas.rkt
@@ -152,11 +152,12 @@
                               (set-max-height snip-height))))))))))
       (define/public (recalc-snips)
         (let ([editor (get-editor)])
-          (unless (is-a? editor text:wide-snip<%>)
-            (error 'recalc-snips "expected a text:wide-snip<%> editor, instead ~e" editor))
-          (when (eq? (send editor get-canvas) this)
-            (for-each (update-snip-size #t) (send editor get-wide-snips))
-            (for-each (update-snip-size #f) (send editor get-tall-snips)))))
+          (when editor
+            (unless (is-a? editor text:wide-snip<%>)
+              (error 'recalc-snips "expected a text:wide-snip<%> editor, instead ~e" editor))
+            (when (eq? (send editor get-canvas) this)
+              (for-each (update-snip-size #t) (send editor get-wide-snips))
+              (for-each (update-snip-size #f) (send editor get-tall-snips))))))
       (define/public (add-wide-snip snip)
         (let ([editor (get-editor)])
           (unless (is-a? editor text:wide-snip<%>)