diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoamenubar.mm b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoamenubar.mm
index aceb9b619b1..0b465087827 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoamenubar.mm
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qcocoamenubar.mm
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ void QCocoaMenuBar::insertNativeMenu(QCocoaMenu *menu, QCocoaMenu *beforeMenu)
 
     menu->setMenuBar(this);
     syncMenu(static_cast<QPlatformMenu *>(menu));
-    [m_nativeMenu setSubmenu: menu->nsMenu() forItem: menu->nsMenuItem()];
+    if (menu->isVisible()) {
+        [m_nativeMenu setSubmenu: menu->nsMenu() forItem: menu->nsMenuItem()];
+    }
 }
 
 void QCocoaMenuBar::insertMenu(QPlatformMenu *platformMenu, QPlatformMenu *before)