diff --git a/gtk/a11y/gtkatspicontext.c b/gtk/a11y/gtkatspicontext.c
index 7c49929aff..a0086365c4 100644
--- a/gtk/a11y/gtkatspicontext.c
+++ b/gtk/a11y/gtkatspicontext.c
@@ -436,7 +436,11 @@ get_parent_context_ref (GtkAccessible *accessible)
         gtk_accessible_get_at_context (GTK_ACCESSIBLE (parent));
 
       if (parent_context != NULL)
-        res = gtk_at_spi_context_to_ref (GTK_AT_SPI_CONTEXT (parent_context));
+        {
+          gtk_at_context_realize (parent_context);
+
+          res = gtk_at_spi_context_to_ref (GTK_AT_SPI_CONTEXT (parent_context));
+        }
     }
 
   if (res == NULL)