diff --git a/gramps/plugins/gramplet/todo.py b/gramps/plugins/gramplet/todo.py
index 2ee801980..783bd5a7a 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/gramplet/todo.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/gramplet/todo.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from gi.repository import Gtk
 from gramps.gen.plug import Gramplet
 from gramps.gui.widgets.styledtexteditor import StyledTextEditor
 from gramps.gui.widgets import SimpleButton
+from gramps.gui.dialog import WarningDialog
 from gramps.gen.lib import StyledText, Note, NoteType
 from gramps.gen.db import DbTxn
 from gramps.gen.errors import WindowActiveError
@@ -185,13 +186,21 @@ class ToDo(Gramplet):
         """
         Create a new To Do note.
         """
-        from gramps.gui.editors import EditNote
-        note = Note()
-        note.set_type(NoteType.TODO)
-        try:
-            EditNote(self.gui.dbstate, self.gui.uistate, [], note, self.created)
-        except WindowActiveError:
-            pass
+        nav_type = self.uistate.viewmanager.active_page.navigation_type()
+        active_handle = self.get_active(nav_type)
+        if active_handle:
+            from gramps.gui.editors import EditNote
+            note = Note()
+            note.set_type(NoteType.TODO)
+            try:
+                EditNote(self.gui.dbstate, self.gui.uistate, [], note, self.created)
+            except WindowActiveError:
+                pass
+        else:
+            WarningDialog(_("No active object"),
+                _("First select the object to which you want to attach a note")
+                    + _(":") + _(nav_type),
+                parent=self.uistate.window)
 
 class PersonToDo(ToDo):
     """