diff --git a/redo/windows/tab.c b/redo/windows/tab.c
index 273f76ce..e1ae7550 100644
--- a/redo/windows/tab.c
+++ b/redo/windows/tab.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ static void tabDelete(uiTab *tt, uintmax_t n)
 	ptrArrayDelete(t->pages, n);
 
 	// and free the page
-	// this will keep the control alive
+	tabPagePreserveChild(page);
 	uiControlSetParent(page, NULL);
 	uiControlDestroy(page);
 }
diff --git a/redo/windows/tabpage.c b/redo/windows/tabpage.c
index 9b327ab1..d240cc50 100644
--- a/redo/windows/tabpage.c
+++ b/redo/windows/tabpage.c
@@ -142,6 +142,14 @@ void tabPageDestroyChild(uiControl *c)
 	t->child = NULL;
 }
 
+void tabPagePreserveChild(uiControl *c)
+{
+	struct tabPage *t = (struct tabPage *) c;
+
+	uiControlSetParent(t->child, NULL);
+	t->child = NULL;
+}
+
 void tabPageSetChild(uiControl *c, uiControl *child)
 {
 	struct tabPage *t = (struct tabPage *) c;
diff --git a/redo/windows/uipriv_windows.h b/redo/windows/uipriv_windows.h
index cb8caf2c..88db09a0 100644
--- a/redo/windows/uipriv_windows.h
+++ b/redo/windows/uipriv_windows.h
@@ -119,4 +119,5 @@ extern uiControl *newTabPage(void);
 extern int tabPageMargined(uiControl *);
 extern void tabPageSetMargined(uiControl *, int);
 extern void tabPageDestroyChild(uiControl *);
+extern void tabPagePreserveChild(uiControl *);
 extern void tabPageSetChild(uiControl *, uiControl *);