diff --git a/common/widgets/design_block_preview_widget.h b/common/widgets/design_block_preview_widget.h
index 46b2e52141..66c1e0c284 100644
--- a/common/widgets/design_block_preview_widget.h
+++ b/common/widgets/design_block_preview_widget.h
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ public:
     DESIGN_BLOCK_PREVIEW_WIDGET( wxWindow* aParent ) : wxPanel( aParent ) {}
     ~DESIGN_BLOCK_PREVIEW_WIDGET() = default;
 
+    /**
+     * Return whether the widget initialized properly. This could return false if Kiway is
+     * not available. If this returns false, no other methods should be called.
+     */
+    virtual bool IsInitialized() const = 0;
 
     /**
      * Set the contents of the status label and display it.
diff --git a/common/widgets/panel_design_block_chooser.cpp b/common/widgets/panel_design_block_chooser.cpp
index e3e65b9435..bb465b52bd 100644
--- a/common/widgets/panel_design_block_chooser.cpp
+++ b/common/widgets/panel_design_block_chooser.cpp
@@ -318,6 +318,9 @@ void PANEL_DESIGN_BLOCK_CHOOSER::onOpenLibsTimer( wxTimerEvent& aEvent )
 
 void PANEL_DESIGN_BLOCK_CHOOSER::onDesignBlockSelected( wxCommandEvent& aEvent )
 {
+    if( !m_preview || !m_preview->IsInitialized() )
+        return;
+
     if( GetSelectedLibId().IsValid() )
     {
         std::unique_ptr<DESIGN_BLOCK> designBlock( m_parent->GetDesignBlock( GetSelectedLibId(), true, true ) );
diff --git a/eeschema/widgets/sch_design_block_preview_widget.h b/eeschema/widgets/sch_design_block_preview_widget.h
index 0b20600dc4..06dddd6324 100644
--- a/eeschema/widgets/sch_design_block_preview_widget.h
+++ b/eeschema/widgets/sch_design_block_preview_widget.h
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ public:
 
     ~SCH_DESIGN_BLOCK_PREVIEW_WIDGET() override;
 
+    /*
+     * Return whether the widget initialized properly. This could return false if Kiway is
+     * not available. If this returns false, no other methods should be called.
+     */
+    bool IsInitialized() const override { return m_preview != nullptr; }
+
     /**
      * Set the contents of the status label and display it.
      */
diff --git a/pcbnew/widgets/pcb_design_block_preview_widget.h b/pcbnew/widgets/pcb_design_block_preview_widget.h
index 7a80ec3e7e..bff9e619bf 100644
--- a/pcbnew/widgets/pcb_design_block_preview_widget.h
+++ b/pcbnew/widgets/pcb_design_block_preview_widget.h
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ public:
 
     ~PCB_DESIGN_BLOCK_PREVIEW_WIDGET() override;
 
+    /**
+     * Return whether the widget initialized properly. This could return false if Kiway is
+     * not available. If this returns false, no other methods should be called.
+     */
+    bool IsInitialized() const override { return m_preview != nullptr; }
+
     /**
      * Set the contents of the status label and display it.
      */