diff --git a/SmartPanel.xaml.cpp b/SmartPanel.xaml.cpp
index 8ac82bd66b38e6799cd267a8e247b84f67255d93..201a6388d192f6390b14a68dbc0f68a45d85a2d6 100644
--- a/SmartPanel.xaml.cpp
+++ b/SmartPanel.xaml.cpp
@@ -228,8 +228,13 @@ SmartPanel::_smartList__SelectionChanged(Platform::Object^ sender, Windows::UI::
 {
     auto listbox = safe_cast<ListBox^>(sender);
     auto item = safe_cast<SmartPanelItem^>(listbox->SelectedItem);
-    auto contact = safe_cast<Contact^>(item->_contact);
-    ContactsViewModel::instance->selectedContact = contact;
+    if (item != nullptr) {
+        auto contact = safe_cast<Contact^>(item->_contact);
+        ContactsViewModel::instance->selectedContact = contact;
+    }
+    else {
+        ContactsViewModel::instance->selectedContact = nullptr;
+    }
 }
 
 void