diff --git a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/UI/MainComponent.cpp b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/UI/MainComponent.cpp
index 474c3e69ee..0aa2ccaa3a 100644
--- a/examples/DemoRunner/Source/UI/MainComponent.cpp
+++ b/examples/DemoRunner/Source/UI/MainComponent.cpp
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ void MainComponent::parentHierarchyChanged()
            #if JUCE_ANDROID
             currentRenderingEngineIdx = (renderingEngines.size() - 1);
            #else
-            currentRenderingEngineIdx = peer->getCurrentRenderingEngine();
+            currentRenderingEngineIdx = peer != nullptr ? peer->getCurrentRenderingEngine() : -1;
            #endif
         }
 
@@ -462,7 +462,9 @@ void MainComponent::updateRenderingEngine (int renderingEngineIndex)
     else
     {
         openGLContext.detach();
-        peer->setCurrentRenderingEngine (renderingEngineIndex);
+
+        if (peer != nullptr)
+            peer->setCurrentRenderingEngine (renderingEngineIndex);
     }
 
     currentRenderingEngineIdx = renderingEngineIndex;