diff --git a/gramps/plugins/gramplet/whatsnext.py b/gramps/plugins/gramplet/whatsnext.py
index d44ca255b..56d3420b6 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/gramplet/whatsnext.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/gramplet/whatsnext.py
@@ -93,12 +93,13 @@ class WhatNextGramplet(Gramplet):
         self.opts[3].add_item('', '')
         self.opts[4].add_item('', '')
         self.opts[5].add_item('', '')
-        for tag_handle in self.dbstate.db.get_tag_handles(sort_handles=True):
-            tag = self.dbstate.db.get_tag_from_handle(tag_handle)
-            tag_name = tag.get_name()
-            self.opts[3].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
-            self.opts[4].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
-            self.opts[5].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
+        if self.dbstate.db.is_open():
+            for tag_handle in self.dbstate.db.get_tag_handles(sort_handles=True):
+                tag = self.dbstate.db.get_tag_from_handle(tag_handle)
+                tag_name = tag.get_name()
+                self.opts[3].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
+                self.opts[4].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
+                self.opts[5].add_item(tag_name, tag_name)
 
         list(map(self.add_option, self.opts))