diff --git a/src/Compositor.cpp b/src/Compositor.cpp
index da20c5cf..fbbfd7e7 100644
--- a/src/Compositor.cpp
+++ b/src/Compositor.cpp
@@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ void CCompositor::focusWindow(PHLWINDOW pWindow, SP<CWLSurfaceResource> pSurface
         PWORKSPACE->rememberPrevWorkspace(m_pLastMonitor->activeWorkspace);
         if (PWORKSPACE->m_bIsSpecialWorkspace)
             m_pLastMonitor->changeWorkspace(PWORKSPACE, false, true); // if special ws, open on current monitor
-        else
+        else if (PMONITOR)
             PMONITOR->changeWorkspace(PWORKSPACE, false, true);
         // changeworkspace already calls focusWindow
         return;
@@ -1088,7 +1088,7 @@ void CCompositor::focusWindow(PHLWINDOW pWindow, SP<CWLSurfaceResource> pSurface
 
     /* If special fallthrough is enabled, this behavior will be disabled, as I have no better idea of nicely tracking which
        window focuses are "via keybinds" and which ones aren't. */
-    if (PMONITOR->activeSpecialWorkspace && PMONITOR->activeSpecialWorkspace != pWindow->m_pWorkspace && !pWindow->m_bPinned && !*PSPECIALFALLTHROUGH)
+    if (PMONITOR && PMONITOR->activeSpecialWorkspace && PMONITOR->activeSpecialWorkspace != pWindow->m_pWorkspace && !pWindow->m_bPinned && !*PSPECIALFALLTHROUGH)
         PMONITOR->setSpecialWorkspace(nullptr);
 
     // we need to make the PLASTWINDOW not equal to m_pLastWindow so that RENDERDATA is correct for an unfocused window