diff --git a/source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_polybuild.cc b/source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_polybuild.cc
index 9040bb16434..cc9ad38a393 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_polybuild.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/mesh/editmesh_polybuild.cc
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "BKE_object_types.hh"
 #include "BKE_screen.hh"
 
+#include "BLI_listbase.h"
 #include "BLI_math_geom.h"
 #include "BLI_math_matrix.h"
 #include "BLI_math_vector.h"
@@ -82,6 +83,25 @@ static bool edbm_preselect_or_active(bContext *C, const View3D *v3d, Base **r_ba
   wmGizmoMap *gzmap = show_gizmo ? region->runtime->gizmo_map : nullptr;
   wmGizmoGroup *gzgroup = gzmap ? WM_gizmomap_group_find(gzmap, "VIEW3D_GGT_mesh_preselect_elem") :
                                   nullptr;
+
+  if (gzgroup != nullptr) {
+    /* Check the gizmo can draw, if not the state may be stale
+     * or if the gizmo group has never drawn the list may even be empty, see: #141336.
+     *
+     * NOTE(ideasman42): we could also fail with an error in this case,
+     * however that would be quite disruptive, so fallback to the active element. */
+    if (!WM_gizmo_context_check_drawstep(C, WM_GIZMOMAP_DRAWSTEP_3D)) {
+      /* Typically only reached when attempting to use the tool during animation playback. */
+      gzgroup = nullptr;
+    }
+    else if (BLI_listbase_is_empty(&gzgroup->gizmos)) {
+      /* If the gizmo group is drawing it *should* never be empty.
+       * Even so, avoid crashing if it is - investigate if this is ever reached. */
+      BLI_assert(false);
+      gzgroup = nullptr;
+    }
+  }
+
   if (gzgroup != nullptr) {
     wmGizmo *gz = static_cast<wmGizmo *>(gzgroup->gizmos.first);
     ED_view3d_gizmo_mesh_preselect_get_active(C, gz, r_base, r_ele);