diff --git a/extras/Projucer/Source/Project/jucer_Project.cpp b/extras/Projucer/Source/Project/jucer_Project.cpp
index 47b1e9ac67..8fbd6c455f 100644
--- a/extras/Projucer/Source/Project/jucer_Project.cpp
+++ b/extras/Projucer/Source/Project/jucer_Project.cpp
@@ -1548,6 +1548,11 @@ void Project::Item::setID (const String& newID)   { state.setProperty (Ids::ID,
 
 std::unique_ptr<Drawable> Project::Item::loadAsImageFile() const
 {
+    const MessageManagerLock mml (ThreadPoolJob::getCurrentThreadPoolJob());
+
+    if (! mml.lockWasGained())
+        return nullptr;
+
     if (isValid())
         return Drawable::createFromImageFile (getFile());