diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_extra/misc/juce_WebBrowserComponent.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_extra/misc/juce_WebBrowserComponent.cpp
index 3414e0d5eb..77a2c53381 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_extra/misc/juce_WebBrowserComponent.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_extra/misc/juce_WebBrowserComponent.cpp
@@ -644,9 +644,9 @@ void WebBrowserComponent::goToURL (const String& url,
     else
         lastPostData.reset();
 
-    blankPageShown = false;
-
     impl->goToURL (url, headers, postData);
+
+    blankPageShown = false;
 }
 
 void WebBrowserComponent::stop()
diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_extra/native/juce_WebBrowserComponent_windows.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_extra/native/juce_WebBrowserComponent_windows.cpp
index b7752a9ff0..0d814a8a18 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_extra/native/juce_WebBrowserComponent_windows.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_extra/native/juce_WebBrowserComponent_windows.cpp
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ public:
         }
         else
         {
-            if (owner.unloadPageWhenHidden && ! owner.blankPageShown)
+            if (webView != nullptr && owner.unloadPageWhenHidden && ! owner.blankPageShown)
             {
                 // when the component becomes invisible, some stuff like flash
                 // carries on playing audio, so we need to force it onto a blank