diff --git a/qt/Application.h b/qt/Application.h
index a5bbd08fe..043b4487d 100644
--- a/qt/Application.h
+++ b/qt/Application.h
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ private:
     void quitLater() const;
     void notifyTorrentAdded(Torrent const*) const;
 
+    std::unordered_set<QString> interned_strings_;
+
     std::unique_ptr<Prefs> prefs_;
     std::unique_ptr<Session> session_;
     std::unique_ptr<TorrentModel> model_;
@@ -114,8 +116,6 @@ private:
     QString const config_name_ = QStringLiteral("transmission");
     QString const display_name_ = QStringLiteral("transmission-qt");
 
-    std::unordered_set<QString> interned_strings_;
-
 #ifdef QT_DBUS_LIB
     QString const fdo_notifications_service_name_ = QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.Notifications");
     QString const fdo_notifications_path_ = QStringLiteral("/org/freedesktop/Notifications");
diff --git a/qt/VariantHelpers.cc b/qt/VariantHelpers.cc
index 5f6e9b970..11fb26732 100644
--- a/qt/VariantHelpers.cc
+++ b/qt/VariantHelpers.cc
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ bool change(TrackerStat& setme, tr_variant const* value)
         changed = true;
     }
 
-    if (site_changed && !setme.sitename.isEmpty() && !setme.announce.isEmpty())
+    if (site_changed && !setme.sitename.isEmpty() && !setme.announce.isEmpty() && trApp != nullptr)
     {
         setme.announce = trApp->intern(setme.announce);
         trApp->load_favicon(setme.announce);