diff --git a/src/Files.App/Views/LayoutModes/ColumnViewBrowser.xaml.cs b/src/Files.App/Views/LayoutModes/ColumnViewBrowser.xaml.cs
index c2a42b783a10..5fbf78aa1e18 100644
--- a/src/Files.App/Views/LayoutModes/ColumnViewBrowser.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/Files.App/Views/LayoutModes/ColumnViewBrowser.xaml.cs
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ public void SetSelectedPathOrNavigate(PathNavigationEventArgs e)
 			if (ParentShellPageInstance is null)
 				return;
 
-			if (NormalizePath(ParentShellPageInstance.FilesystemViewModel.WorkingDirectory) !=
+			if (NormalizePath(ParentShellPageInstance.FilesystemViewModel?.WorkingDirectory) !=
 				NormalizePath(e.ItemPath))
 				ParentShellPageInstance.NavigateToPath(e.ItemPath);
 			else