diff --git "a/idesearchpanel.pas" "b/idesearchpanel.pas"
index 6dd7f6c..4aaab0d 100644
--- "a/idesearchpanel.pas"
+++ "b/idesearchpanel.pas"
@@ -558,7 +558,8 @@ begin
   {$IFDEF DebugSayt}
   DebugSayt('Destroy', Cmd.Checked.ToString(True));
   {$ENDIF}
-  DoChangePanelVisibility(not Cmd.Checked);
+  if Cmd <> nil then
+    DoChangePanelVisibility(not Cmd.Checked);
 end;
 
 function TIDESearchPanel.OnProjectOpen(Sender: TObject;
@@ -834,7 +835,8 @@ end;
 procedure TIDESearchPanel.UpdateDockState(var astate: TSearchState; wnd: TWinControl);
 begin
    {$IFDEF DebugSayt} DebugSayt('UpdateDockState', ''); {$ENDIF}
-  Astate.InitiallyVisible := fPanel.Visible;
+  if fPanel <> nil then
+    Astate.InitiallyVisible := fPanel.Visible;
 end;
 
 procedure TIDESearchPanel.LoadState(cfg: TXMLConfig; const StateName: string);
@@ -915,6 +917,7 @@ begin
   ASearchPanel := TIDESearchPanel.Create;
   cmd := RegisterIDEMenuCommand(itmSearchFindReplace, 'showSearchPanel',
     mnuShowPanel, @ASearchPanel.OnCmdClick, nil, nil, '');
+  ASearchPanel.LoadStates;
   LazarusIDE.AddHandlerOnProjectOpened(@ASearchPanel.OnProjectOpen, False);
   LazarusIDE.GetMainBar.OnWindowStateChange := @ASearchPanel.MainWindowStateChange;
 end;