diff --git a/src/effects/Effect.cpp b/src/effects/Effect.cpp
index 6cea8cdc2..3ac7486a4 100644
--- a/src/effects/Effect.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/Effect.cpp
@@ -415,6 +415,9 @@ wxString Effect::GetPreviewName()
 
 void Effect::Preview(bool dryOnly)
 {
+   if (mNumTracks==0) // nothing to preview
+      return;
+
    wxWindow* FocusDialog = wxWindow::FindFocus();
    if (gAudioIO->IsBusy())
       return;