diff --git a/gtk/gtkcssnode.c b/gtk/gtkcssnode.c
index 42d9eb6c6c..3567b3ed77 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcssnode.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcssnode.c
@@ -1432,6 +1432,7 @@ GtkStyleProviderPrivate *
 gtk_css_node_get_style_provider (GtkCssNode *cssnode)
 {
   GtkStyleProviderPrivate *result;
+  GtkSettings *settings;
 
   result = gtk_css_node_get_style_provider_or_null (cssnode);
   if (result)
@@ -1440,7 +1441,11 @@ gtk_css_node_get_style_provider (GtkCssNode *cssnode)
   if (cssnode->parent)
     return gtk_css_node_get_style_provider (cssnode->parent);
 
-  return GTK_STYLE_PROVIDER_PRIVATE (_gtk_settings_get_style_cascade (gtk_settings_get_default (), 1));
+  settings = gtk_settings_get_default ();
+  if (!settings)
+    return NULL;
+
+  return GTK_STYLE_PROVIDER_PRIVATE (_gtk_settings_get_style_cascade (settings, 1));
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/gtk/gtkcsswidgetnode.c b/gtk/gtkcsswidgetnode.c
index 575e3ca46b..2d65b266db 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcsswidgetnode.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcsswidgetnode.c
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ gtk_css_widget_node_get_style_provider (GtkCssNode *node)
   GtkCssWidgetNode *widget_node = GTK_CSS_WIDGET_NODE (node);
   GtkStyleContext *context;
   GtkStyleCascade *cascade;
+  GtkSettings *settings;
 
   if (widget_node->widget == NULL)
     return NULL;
@@ -243,6 +244,10 @@ gtk_css_widget_node_get_style_provider (GtkCssNode *node)
   if (context)
     return gtk_style_context_get_style_provider (context);
 
+  settings = gtk_widget_get_settings (widget_node->widget);
+  if (!settings)
+    return NULL;
+
   cascade = _gtk_settings_get_style_cascade (gtk_widget_get_settings (widget_node->widget),
                                              gtk_widget_get_scale_factor (widget_node->widget));
   return GTK_STYLE_PROVIDER_PRIVATE (cascade);