diff --git a/src/gtk/window.cpp b/src/gtk/window.cpp
index c6f04210f9..092022df0b 100644
--- a/src/gtk/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/window.cpp
@@ -2883,11 +2883,22 @@ wxWindowGTK::~wxWindowGTK()
     m_isBeingDeleted = true;
     m_hasVMT = false;
 
+    // destroy children before destroying this window itself
+    DestroyChildren();
+
+    // unhook focus handlers to prevent stray events being
+    // propagated to this (soon to be) dead object
+    if (m_focusWidget != NULL)
+    {
+        gtk_signal_disconnect_by_func( GTK_OBJECT(m_focusWidget),
+            (GtkSignalFunc) gtk_window_focus_in_callback, (gpointer) this );
+        gtk_signal_disconnect_by_func( GTK_OBJECT(m_focusWidget),
+            (GtkSignalFunc) gtk_window_focus_out_callback, (gpointer) this );
+    }
+
     if (m_widget)
         Show( false );
 
-    DestroyChildren();
-
 #ifdef HAVE_XIM
     if (m_ic)
         gdk_ic_destroy (m_ic);
diff --git a/src/gtk1/window.cpp b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
index c6f04210f9..092022df0b 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/window.cpp
@@ -2883,11 +2883,22 @@ wxWindowGTK::~wxWindowGTK()
     m_isBeingDeleted = true;
     m_hasVMT = false;
 
+    // destroy children before destroying this window itself
+    DestroyChildren();
+
+    // unhook focus handlers to prevent stray events being
+    // propagated to this (soon to be) dead object
+    if (m_focusWidget != NULL)
+    {
+        gtk_signal_disconnect_by_func( GTK_OBJECT(m_focusWidget),
+            (GtkSignalFunc) gtk_window_focus_in_callback, (gpointer) this );
+        gtk_signal_disconnect_by_func( GTK_OBJECT(m_focusWidget),
+            (GtkSignalFunc) gtk_window_focus_out_callback, (gpointer) this );
+    }
+
     if (m_widget)
         Show( false );
 
-    DestroyChildren();
-
 #ifdef HAVE_XIM
     if (m_ic)
         gdk_ic_destroy (m_ic);