diff --git a/thumbnailitem.h b/thumbnailitem.h
--- a/thumbnailitem.h
+++ b/thumbnailitem.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 
 private:
     void findParentEffectWindow();
-    QWeakPointer<EffectWindowImpl> m_parent;
+    QPointer<EffectWindowImpl> m_parent;
     qreal m_brightness;
     qreal m_saturation;
     QPointer<QQuickItem> m_clipToItem;
diff --git a/thumbnailitem.cpp b/thumbnailitem.cpp
--- a/thumbnailitem.cpp
+++ b/thumbnailitem.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 
 AbstractThumbnailItem::AbstractThumbnailItem(QQuickItem *parent)
     : QQuickPaintedItem(parent)
-    , m_parent(QWeakPointer<EffectWindowImpl>())
     , m_brightness(1.0)
     , m_saturation(1.0)
     , m_clipToItem()
@@ -63,8 +62,8 @@
 void AbstractThumbnailItem::init()
 {
     findParentEffectWindow();
-    if (!m_parent.isNull()) {
-        m_parent.data()->registerThumbnail(this);
+    if (m_parent) {
+        m_parent->registerThumbnail(this);
     }
 }
 
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@
             return;
         }
         if (auto *w = static_cast<EffectWindowImpl*>(effects->findWindow(qw))) {
-            m_parent = QWeakPointer<EffectWindowImpl>(w);
+            m_parent = QPointer<EffectWindowImpl>(w);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -88,8 +87,8 @@
     // by using this slot we can register the thumbnail when it is finally created
     if (m_parent.isNull()) {
         findParentEffectWindow();
-        if (!m_parent.isNull()) {
-            m_parent.data()->registerThumbnail(this);
+        if (m_parent) {
+            m_parent->registerThumbnail(this);
         }
     }
 }