diff --git a/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.cpp b/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.cpp
index bf33ab2a4a2..18a56e5a685 100644
--- a/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.cpp
@@ -1826,16 +1826,17 @@ QDebug operator<<(QDebug dbg, const QDockWidget *dockWidget)
 {
     QDebugStateSaver saver(dbg);
     dbg.nospace();
+    return dockWidget ? dbg << *dockWidget : dbg << "QDockWidget(0x0)";
+}
 
-    if (!dockWidget) {
-        dbg << "QDockWidget(0x0)";
-        return dbg;
-    }
-
-    dbg << "QDockWidget(" << static_cast<const void *>(dockWidget);
-    dbg << "->(ObjectName=" << dockWidget->objectName();
-    dbg << "; floating=" << dockWidget->isFloating();
-    dbg << "; features=" << dockWidget->features();
+QDebug operator<<(QDebug dbg, const QDockWidget &dockWidget)
+{
+    QDebugStateSaver saver(dbg);
+    dbg.nospace();
+    dbg << "QDockWidget(" << static_cast<const void *>(&dockWidget);
+    dbg << "->(ObjectName=" << dockWidget.objectName();
+    dbg << "; floating=" << dockWidget.isFloating();
+    dbg << "; features=" << dockWidget.features();
     dbg << ";))";
     return dbg;
 }
diff --git a/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.h b/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.h
index 82538ff1b67..5dfa41a4fcf 100644
--- a/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.h
+++ b/src/widgets/widgets/qdockwidget.h
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public:
     { return (allowedAreas() & area) == area; }
 
 #ifndef QT_NO_DEBUG_STREAM
+    friend Q_WIDGETS_EXPORT QDebug operator<<(QDebug dbg, const QDockWidget &dockWidget);
     friend Q_WIDGETS_EXPORT QDebug operator<<(QDebug dbg, const QDockWidget *dockWidget);
 #endif