diff --git a/demos/gtk-demo/panes.c b/demos/gtk-demo/panes.c
index 60ee2dd635..3399653d10 100644
--- a/demos/gtk-demo/panes.c
+++ b/demos/gtk-demo/panes.c
@@ -17,17 +17,23 @@ void
 toggle_resize (GtkWidget *widget,
 	       GtkWidget *child)
 {
-  GtkPaned *paned = GTK_PANED (child->parent);
-  gboolean is_child1 = (child == gtk_paned_get_child1 (paned));
+  GtkWidget *parent;
+  GtkPaned *paned;
+  gboolean is_child1;
   gboolean resize, shrink;
 
+  parent = gtk_widget_get_parent (child);
+  paned = GTK_PANED (parent);
+
+  is_child1 = (child == gtk_paned_get_child1 (paned));
+
   gtk_container_child_get (GTK_CONTAINER (paned), child,
                            "resize", &resize,
                            "shrink", &shrink,
                            NULL);
 
   g_object_ref (child);
-  gtk_container_remove (GTK_CONTAINER (child->parent), child);
+  gtk_container_remove (GTK_CONTAINER (parent), child);
   if (is_child1)
     gtk_paned_pack1 (paned, child, !resize, shrink);
   else
@@ -39,17 +45,23 @@ void
 toggle_shrink (GtkWidget *widget,
 	       GtkWidget *child)
 {
-  GtkPaned *paned = GTK_PANED (child->parent);
-  gboolean is_child1 = (child == gtk_paned_get_child1 (paned));
+  GtkWidget *parent;
+  GtkPaned *paned;
+  gboolean is_child1;
   gboolean resize, shrink;
 
+  parent = gtk_widget_get_parent (child);
+  paned = GTK_PANED (parent);
+
+  is_child1 = (child == gtk_paned_get_child1 (paned));
+
   gtk_container_child_get (GTK_CONTAINER (paned), child,
                            "resize", &resize,
                            "shrink", &shrink,
                            NULL);
 
   g_object_ref (child);
-  gtk_container_remove (GTK_CONTAINER (child->parent), child);
+  gtk_container_remove (GTK_CONTAINER (parent), child);
   if (is_child1)
     gtk_paned_pack1 (paned, child, resize, !shrink);
   else