diff --git a/indra/newview/llgroupactions.cpp b/indra/newview/llgroupactions.cpp
index a78a0a43b463f74841a7098b9f269248fe05cd70..d6e2bb0445f47ff2e90d9bedd67e91dec101faaf 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llgroupactions.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llgroupactions.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,9 @@ void LLGroupActions::activate(const LLUUID& group_id)
 
 static bool isGroupUIVisible()
 {
-	LLPanel* panel = LLSideTray::getInstance()->findChild<LLPanel>("panel_group_info_sidetray");
+	static LLPanel* panel = 0;
+	if(!panel)
+		panel = LLSideTray::getInstance()->findChild<LLPanel>("panel_group_info_sidetray");
 	if(!panel)
 		return false;
 	return panel->isInVisibleChain();