diff --git a/src/video/SDL_video.c b/src/video/SDL_video.c
index a1b1bba1c5..d42ecd492a 100644
--- a/src/video/SDL_video.c
+++ b/src/video/SDL_video.c
@@ -3672,6 +3672,10 @@ bool SDL_SetWindowParent(SDL_Window *window, SDL_Window *parent)
         CHECK_WINDOW_NOT_POPUP(parent, false);
     }
 
+    if (window == parent) {
+        return SDL_SetError("Cannot set the parent of a window to itself.");
+    }
+
     if (!_this->SetWindowParent) {
         return SDL_Unsupported();
     }