diff --git a/src/cmdparse.y b/src/cmdparse.y
index c38f660f..fba4a3cf 100644
--- a/src/cmdparse.y
+++ b/src/cmdparse.y
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ focus:
             int to_focus = $2;
             if ($2 == TOK_MODE_TOGGLE) {
                 current = TAILQ_FIRST(&(ws->focus_head));
-                if (current->type == CT_FLOATING_CON)
+                if (current != NULL && current->type == CT_FLOATING_CON)
                     to_focus = TOK_TILING;
                 else to_focus = TOK_FLOATING;
             }
diff --git a/testcases/t/74-regress-focus-toggle.t b/testcases/t/74-regress-focus-toggle.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..469d1be8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/74-regress-focus-toggle.t
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+#
+# Regression: Checks if i3 still lives after using 'focus mode_toggle' on an
+# empty workspace. This regression was fixed in
+# 0848844f2d41055f6ffc69af1149d7a873460976.
+#
+use i3test;
+use v5.10;
+
+my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
+
+cmd 'focus mode_toggle';
+
+does_i3_live;
+
+done_testing;