diff --git a/Orange/widgets/utils/overlay.py b/Orange/widgets/utils/overlay.py
index 4d9bb9629c7..53e575a8d01 100644
--- a/Orange/widgets/utils/overlay.py
+++ b/Orange/widgets/utils/overlay.py
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ def __layout(self):
         hpolicy = policy.horizontalPolicy()
         vpolicy = policy.verticalPolicy()
 
+        if not effectivesh.isValid():
+            effectivesh = QSize(0, 0)
+            vpolicy = hpolicy = QSizePolicy.Ignored
+
         def getsize(hint, minimum, maximum, policy):
             if policy == QSizePolicy.Ignored:
                 return maximum