diff --git a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
index 4fb3eab8..a8557a06 100644
--- a/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
+++ b/simgear/canvas/elements/CanvasElement.cxx
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ namespace canvas
   osg::Vec2f Element::posToLocal(const osg::Vec2f& pos) const
   {
     getMatrix();
+    if (! _transform) return osg::Vec2f(pos[0], pos[1]);
     const osg::Matrix& m = _transform->getInverseMatrix();
     return osg::Vec2f
     (