diff --git a/lcl/include/wincontrol.inc b/lcl/include/wincontrol.inc
index 97ea051a89..63675c0b43 100644
--- a/lcl/include/wincontrol.inc
+++ b/lcl/include/wincontrol.inc
@@ -5624,10 +5624,12 @@ function TWinControl.DoKeyDownBeforeInterface(var Message: TLMKey; IsRecurseCall
   function IsShortCut: Boolean;
   var
     AParent: TWinControl;
+    APopupMenu: TPopupMenu;
   begin
     Result := False;
     // check popup menu
-    if Assigned(PopupMenu) and PopupMenu.IsShortCut(Message) then
+    APopupMenu := PopupMenu;
+    if Assigned(APopupMenu) and APopupMenu.IsShortCut(Message) then
       Exit(True);
 
     if IsRecurseCall then