diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/find/highlightscrollbar.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/find/highlightscrollbar.cpp
index c9e8a98eb0a..c7cc690fa93 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/find/highlightscrollbar.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/find/highlightscrollbar.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 
 #include "highlightscrollbar.h"
 
+#include <utils/qtcassert.h>
+
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QResizeEvent>
 #include <QStyle>
@@ -252,7 +254,7 @@ void HighlightScrollBarOverlay::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *paintEvent)
         int top = rect.top() + offset + verticalMargin + float(it.key()) / range * rect.height();
         const int bottom = top + resultHeight;
 
-        if (previousCategory == currentCategory && previousBottom + 1 >= top) {
+        if (QTC_GUARD(previousRect) && previousCategory == currentCategory && previousBottom + 1 >= top) {
             // If the previous highlight has the same category and is directly prior to this highlight
             // we just extend the previous highlight.
             previousRect->setBottom(bottom - 1);