diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoasystemtrayicon.mm b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoasystemtrayicon.mm
index 3a7ac60424..4982f5ee05 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoasystemtrayicon.mm
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoasystemtrayicon.mm
@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ QT_END_NAMESPACE
 - (void)dealloc {
     [[NSStatusBar systemStatusBar] removeStatusItem:item];
     [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] removeObserver:imageCell];
+    imageCell.parent = nil;
     [imageCell release];
     [item release];
     [super dealloc];