diff --git a/src/setup.c b/src/setup.c
index fa8e65e69..a97b534c9 100644
--- a/src/setup.c
+++ b/src/setup.c
@@ -380,8 +380,9 @@ save_setup (void)
     save_string ("Dirs", "other_dir",
 			       get_other_type () == view_listing
 			       ? opanel->cwd : ".", profile);
-    WritePrivateProfileString ("Dirs", "current_is_left",
-			       get_current_index () == 0 ? "1" : "0", profile);
+    if (get_current_panel () != NULL)
+	    WritePrivateProfileString ("Dirs", "current_is_left",
+				       get_current_index () == 0 ? "1" : "0", profile);
     save_hotlist ();
     save_panelize ();
     save_panel_types ();