diff --git a/src/SMESH_I/SMESH_Filter_i.cxx b/src/SMESH_I/SMESH_Filter_i.cxx
index 61d8faa5a..5ccc12bff 100644
--- a/src/SMESH_I/SMESH_Filter_i.cxx
+++ b/src/SMESH_I/SMESH_Filter_i.cxx
@@ -3067,8 +3067,8 @@ CORBA::Boolean Filter_i::SetCriteria( const SMESH::Filter::Criteria& theCriteria
   }
 
   SetPredicate( aResPredicate );
-
-  aResPredicate->UnRegister();
+  if ( !aResPredicate->_is_nil() )
+    aResPredicate->UnRegister();
 
   return !aResPredicate->_is_nil();
 }