diff --git a/scene/main/viewport.cpp b/scene/main/viewport.cpp
index 169a5dcb014..0cdb23618f8 100644
--- a/scene/main/viewport.cpp
+++ b/scene/main/viewport.cpp
@@ -1448,7 +1448,11 @@ void Viewport::_gui_show_tooltip() {
 			&tooltip_owner);
 	gui.tooltip_text = gui.tooltip_text.strip_edges();
 
-	if (gui.tooltip_text.is_empty()) {
+	// Controls can implement `make_custom_tooltip` to provide their own tooltip.
+	// This should be a Control node which will be added as child to a TooltipPanel.
+	Control *base_tooltip = tooltip_owner ? tooltip_owner->make_custom_tooltip(gui.tooltip_text) : nullptr;
+
+	if (gui.tooltip_text.is_empty() && !base_tooltip) {
 		return; // Nothing to show.
 	}
 
@@ -1469,10 +1473,6 @@ void Viewport::_gui_show_tooltip() {
 	// Ensure no opaque background behind the panel as its StyleBox can be partially transparent (e.g. corners).
 	panel->set_transparent_background(true);
 
-	// Controls can implement `make_custom_tooltip` to provide their own tooltip.
-	// This should be a Control node which will be added as child to a TooltipPanel.
-	Control *base_tooltip = tooltip_owner->make_custom_tooltip(gui.tooltip_text);
-
 	// If no custom tooltip is given, use a default implementation.
 	if (!base_tooltip) {
 		gui.tooltip_label = memnew(Label);