diff --git a/scene/gui/tree.cpp b/scene/gui/tree.cpp
index a4c239cf534..1d06ce05ae9 100644
--- a/scene/gui/tree.cpp
+++ b/scene/gui/tree.cpp
@@ -4544,6 +4544,8 @@ TreeItem *Tree::get_selected() const {
 void Tree::set_selected(TreeItem *p_item, int p_column) {
 	ERR_FAIL_INDEX(p_column, columns.size());
 	ERR_FAIL_NULL(p_item);
+	ERR_FAIL_COND_MSG(p_item->get_tree() != this, "The provided TreeItem does not belong to this Tree. Ensure that the TreeItem is a part of the Tree before setting it as selected.");
+
 	select_single_item(p_item, get_root(), p_column);
 }