diff --git a/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.cpp b/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.cpp
index 8c3054c6c0..f320465c8b 100644
--- a/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.cpp
+++ b/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.cpp
@@ -70,15 +70,13 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE( DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME, PCB_BASE_FRAME )
                    DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME::OnUpdateLineDrawMode )
 END_EVENT_TABLE()
 
-#define DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME_NAME wxT( "CmpFrame" )
-
 
 DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME::DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME( KIWAY* aKiway, CVPCB_MAINFRAME* aParent ) :
-    PCB_BASE_FRAME( aKiway, aParent, CVPCB_DISPLAY_FRAME_TYPE, _( "Module" ),
+    PCB_BASE_FRAME( aKiway, aParent, CVPCB_DISPLAY_FRAME_TYPE, _( "Footprint Viewer" ),
         wxDefaultPosition, wxDefaultSize,
-        KICAD_DEFAULT_DRAWFRAME_STYLE, DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME_NAME )
+        KICAD_DEFAULT_DRAWFRAME_STYLE, FOOTPRINTVIEWER_FRAME_NAME )
 {
-    m_FrameName = DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME_NAME;
+    m_FrameName = FOOTPRINTVIEWER_FRAME_NAME;
     m_showAxis = true;         // true to draw axis.
 
     // Give an icon
@@ -147,9 +145,6 @@ DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME::~DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME()
 {
     delete GetScreen();
     SetScreen( NULL );      // Be sure there is no double deletion
-
-    // a crash would be better than this uncommented:
-    // ( (CVPCB_MAINFRAME*) Pgm().GetTopWindow() )->m_DisplayFootprintFrame = NULL;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.h b/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.h
index 5c36fa6ef4..b26f372565 100644
--- a/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.h
+++ b/cvpcb/class_DisplayFootprintsFrame.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 #include <wxBasePcbFrame.h>
 
+// The name (for wxWidgets) of the footprint viewer frame
+#define FOOTPRINTVIEWER_FRAME_NAME wxT( "FootprintViewerFrame" )
 
 class CVPCB_MAINFRAME;
 
diff --git a/cvpcb/class_footprints_listbox.cpp b/cvpcb/class_footprints_listbox.cpp
index 7c1ab079e4..d09cee580b 100644
--- a/cvpcb/class_footprints_listbox.cpp
+++ b/cvpcb/class_footprints_listbox.cpp
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void FOOTPRINTS_LISTBOX::OnLeftClick( wxListEvent& event )
         return;
 
     // If the footprint view window is displayed, update the footprint.
-    if( GetParent()->m_DisplayFootprintFrame )
+    if( GetParent()->GetFpViewerFrame() )
         GetParent()->CreateScreenCmp();
 
     GetParent()->DisplayStatus();
diff --git a/cvpcb/cvframe.cpp b/cvpcb/cvframe.cpp
index ae14ead1f2..256e12c641 100644
--- a/cvpcb/cvframe.cpp
+++ b/cvpcb/cvframe.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ CVPCB_MAINFRAME::CVPCB_MAINFRAME( KIWAY* aKiway, wxWindow* aParent ) :
     m_ListCmp               = NULL;
     m_FootprintList         = NULL;
     m_LibraryList           = NULL;
-    m_DisplayFootprintFrame = NULL;
     m_mainToolBar           = NULL;
     m_modified              = false;
     m_isEESchemaNetlist     = false;
@@ -315,8 +314,8 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::OnCloseWindow( wxCloseEvent& Event )
     }
 
     // Close module display frame
-    if( m_DisplayFootprintFrame )
-        m_DisplayFootprintFrame->Close( true );
+    if( GetFpViewerFrame() )
+        GetFpViewerFrame()->Close( true );
 
     m_modified = false;
 
@@ -562,7 +561,7 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::OnKeepOpenOnSave( wxCommandEvent& event )
 void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::DisplayModule( wxCommandEvent& event )
 {
     CreateScreenCmp();
-    m_DisplayFootprintFrame->RedrawScreen( wxPoint( 0, 0 ), false );
+    GetFpViewerFrame()->RedrawScreen( wxPoint( 0, 0 ), false );
 }
 
 
@@ -601,7 +600,9 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::OnSelectComponent( wxListEvent& event )
     m_FootprintList->SetFootprints( m_footprints, libraryName, component, filter );
 
     // Tell AuiMgr that objects are changed !
-    m_auimgr.Update();
+    if( m_auimgr.GetManagedWindow() )   // Be sure Aui Manager is initialized
+                                        // (could be not the case when starting CvPcb
+        m_auimgr.Update();
 
     if( component == NULL )
         return;
@@ -640,7 +641,7 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::OnSelectComponent( wxListEvent& event )
             if ( ii >= 0 )
                 m_FootprintList->SetSelection( ii, false );
 
-            if( m_DisplayFootprintFrame )
+            if( GetFpViewerFrame() )
             {
                 CreateScreenCmp();
             }
@@ -919,15 +920,17 @@ bool CVPCB_MAINFRAME::WriteComponentLinkFile( const wxString& aFullFileName )
 
 void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::CreateScreenCmp()
 {
-    if( !m_DisplayFootprintFrame )
+    DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME* fpframe = GetFpViewerFrame();
+
+    if( !fpframe )
     {
-        m_DisplayFootprintFrame = new DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME( &Kiway(), this );
-        m_DisplayFootprintFrame->Show( true );
+        fpframe = new DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME( &Kiway(), this );
+        fpframe->Show( true );
     }
     else
     {
-        if( m_DisplayFootprintFrame->IsIconized() )
-             m_DisplayFootprintFrame->Iconize( false );
+        if( fpframe->IsIconized() )
+             fpframe->Iconize( false );
 
         // The display footprint window might be buried under some other
         // windows, so CreateScreenCmp() on an existing window would not
@@ -935,11 +938,11 @@ void CVPCB_MAINFRAME::CreateScreenCmp()
         // So we want to put it to front, second after our CVPCB_MAINFRAME.
         // We do this by a little dance of bringing it to front then the main
         // frame back.
-        m_DisplayFootprintFrame->Raise();  // Make sure that is visible.
-        Raise();                           // .. but still we want the focus.
+        fpframe->Raise();   // Make sure that is visible.
+        Raise();            // .. but still we want the focus.
     }
 
-    m_DisplayFootprintFrame->InitDisplay();
+    fpframe->InitDisplay();
 }
 
 
@@ -1049,3 +1052,10 @@ COMPONENT* CVPCB_MAINFRAME::GetSelectedComponent()
 
     return NULL;
 }
+
+
+DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME* CVPCB_MAINFRAME::GetFpViewerFrame()
+{
+    // returns the Footprint Viewer frame, if exists, or NULL
+    return (DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME*) wxWindow::FindWindowByName( FOOTPRINTVIEWER_FRAME_NAME );
+}
diff --git a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
index 6a7e00efaa..8cd8f5c322 100644
--- a/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
+++ b/cvpcb/cvpcb_mainframe.h
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ public:
     FOOTPRINTS_LISTBOX*       m_FootprintList;
     LIBRARY_LISTBOX*          m_LibraryList;
     COMPONENTS_LISTBOX*       m_ListCmp;
-    DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME* m_DisplayFootprintFrame;
     wxAuiToolBar*             m_mainToolBar;
     wxFileName                m_NetlistFileName;
     wxArrayString             m_ModuleLibNames;
@@ -95,6 +94,11 @@ public:
      */
     FP_LIB_TABLE* FootprintLibs() const;
 
+    /**
+     * @return a pointer on the Footprint Viewer frame, if exists, or NULL
+     */
+    DISPLAY_FOOTPRINTS_FRAME* GetFpViewerFrame();
+
     /**
      * Function OnSelectComponent
      * Called when clicking on a component in component list window