diff --git a/src/focuschain.cpp b/src/focuschain.cpp
index 96a4e87a80..57d5e240d5 100644
--- a/src/focuschain.cpp
+++ b/src/focuschain.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,9 @@ void FocusChain::updateWindowInChain(Window *window, FocusChain::Change change,
 
 void FocusChain::insertWindowIntoChain(Window *window, Chain &chain)
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(!window->isDeleted());
+    if (window->isDeleted()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (chain.contains(window)) {
         return;
     }
@@ -131,7 +133,9 @@ void FocusChain::insertWindowIntoChain(Window *window, Chain &chain)
 
 void FocusChain::moveAfterWindow(Window *window, Window *reference)
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(!window->isDeleted());
+    if (window->isDeleted()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (!window->wantsTabFocus()) {
         return;
     }
@@ -149,7 +153,9 @@ void FocusChain::moveAfterWindow(Window *window, Window *reference)
 
 void FocusChain::moveAfterWindowInChain(Window *window, Window *reference, Chain &chain)
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(!window->isDeleted());
+    if (window->isDeleted()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (!chain.contains(reference)) {
         return;
     }
@@ -214,14 +220,18 @@ Window *FocusChain::nextForDesktop(Window *reference, VirtualDesktop *desktop) c
 
 void FocusChain::makeFirstInChain(Window *window, Chain &chain)
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(!window->isDeleted());
+    if (window->isDeleted()) {
+        return;
+    }
     chain.removeAll(window);
     chain.append(window);
 }
 
 void FocusChain::makeLastInChain(Window *window, Chain &chain)
 {
-    Q_ASSERT(!window->isDeleted());
+    if (window->isDeleted()) {
+        return;
+    }
     chain.removeAll(window);
     chain.prepend(window);
 }