diff --git a/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/cloneview.h b/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/cloneview.h
index f46710b40..f2912504d 100644
--- a/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/cloneview.h
+++ b/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/cloneview.h
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ public :
 	virtual void setScene(QGraphicsScene * scene)
 	{
 		QGraphicsView::setScene(scene);
-		
-		scenegroup = new QGraphicsItemGroup(NULL/*, scene*/);
+		QList<QGraphicsItem*> gil;
+		scenegroup = scene->createItemGroup(gil);
 		crosshair = new QGraphicsItemGroup(scenegroup);
 		crosshair->setZValue(2);
 		QPen pen;
diff --git a/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/paintbox.cpp b/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/paintbox.cpp
index 729cdf9f4..7788a083f 100644
--- a/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/paintbox.cpp
+++ b/src/meshlabplugins/edit_paint/paintbox.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ void Paintbox::on_switch_colors_clicked()
 
 void Paintbox::setClonePixmap(QImage & image)
 {
-	if (item != NULL) getCloneScene()->removeItem(item);
+	if ((item != NULL) && (getCloneScene()->items().contains(item)))
+		getCloneScene()->removeItem(item);
 	item = getCloneScene()->addPixmap(QPixmap::fromImage(image));
 	item->setParentItem(clone_source_view->scenegroup);
 	item->setPos(0, 0);
@@ -142,7 +143,8 @@ void Paintbox::loadClonePixmap()
 	if (!s.isNull()) 
 	{
 		QPixmap pixmap(s);
-		if (item != NULL) getCloneScene()->removeItem(item);
+		if ((item != NULL) && (getCloneScene()->items().contains(item))) 
+			getCloneScene()->removeItem(item);
 		item = getCloneScene()->addPixmap(pixmap);
 		item->setParentItem(clone_source_view->scenegroup);
 		setPixmapDelta(pixmap.width()/2.0, pixmap.height()/2.0);
@@ -190,7 +192,8 @@ void Paintbox::restorePreviousType()
 
 void Paintbox::refreshBrushPreview()
 {
-	if (item != NULL) brush_viewer->scene()->removeItem(item);
+	if ((item != NULL) && (brush_viewer->scene()->items().contains(item))) 
+		brush_viewer->scene()->removeItem(item);
 		
 		item = brush_viewer->scene()->addPixmap(QPixmap::fromImage(
 				raster(getBrush(), (int) ((brush_viewer->width()-2) * size_slider->value() / 100.0),