diff --git a/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py b/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
index 374b9d80b..fd1e9020f 100644
--- a/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
+++ b/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ class TreeBaseModel(gtk.GenericTreeModel):
             node.set_handle(None)
             self.__displayed -= 1
             self.__total -= 1
-        else:
+        elif node.parent: # don't remove the hidden root node
             path = self.on_get_path(node)
             self.nodemap.node(node.parent).remove_child(node, self.nodemap)
             del self.tree[node.ref]