diff --git a/src/Fl_Preferences.cxx b/src/Fl_Preferences.cxx
index b68c00b4b..147711d3b 100644
--- a/src/Fl_Preferences.cxx
+++ b/src/Fl_Preferences.cxx
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@ Fl_Preferences::~Fl_Preferences()
  */
 char Fl_Preferences::copyTo(Fl_Tree *tree)
 {
+  if (!tree->root())
+    tree->add(name());
   return node->copyTo(tree, tree->root());
 }