diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/window.rkt b/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/window.rkt
index 852101118c..9999a148b5 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/window.rkt
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/window.rkt
@@ -576,7 +576,8 @@
     (define/public (enable on?)
       (atomically
        (set! enabled? on?)
-       (enable-window on?)))
+       (when (is-parent-enabled-to-root?)
+         (enable-window on?))))
     (define/public (enable-window on?)
       ;; in atomic mode
       (void))