diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
 
                     z: appletContainer.z + 1
 
-                    active: applet.busy
+                    active: applet && applet.busy
 
                     source: "BusyOverlay.qml"
                     asynchronous: true