diff --git a/gtk/gtktreeview.c b/gtk/gtktreeview.c
index 8fffa8ebb0..be37219636 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktreeview.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktreeview.c
@@ -2912,9 +2912,12 @@ row_is_separator (GtkTreeView *tree_view,
       GtkTreeIter tmpiter;
 
       if (iter)
-	tmpiter = *iter;
+        tmpiter = *iter;
       else
-	gtk_tree_model_get_iter (tree_view->priv->model, &tmpiter, path);
+        {
+          if (!gtk_tree_model_get_iter (tree_view->priv->model, &tmpiter, path))
+            return FALSE;
+        }
 
       is_separator = tree_view->priv->row_separator_func (tree_view->priv->model,
                                                           &tmpiter,