diff --git a/src/extension/internal/svg.cpp b/src/extension/internal/svg.cpp
index f8809de6ac227925b32425c3ba4c40cb0e025d20..b5c0645beaa3bebe598ef8523bf9c597c0ad3ef2 100644
--- a/src/extension/internal/svg.cpp
+++ b/src/extension/internal/svg.cpp
@@ -831,6 +831,12 @@ Svg::open (Inkscape::Extension::Input *mod, const gchar *uri)
     bool import_pages = (import_mode_svg == "pages");
     // Do we "import" as <image>?
     if (uri && import && import_mode_svg == "new") {
+        // this avoid a crash on appimage on new documents
+        SPDocument *original_doc = SP_ACTIVE_DOCUMENT;
+        if (original_doc && original_doc->getVirgin()) {
+            original_doc->setVirgin(false);
+            original_doc->setModifiedSinceSave();
+        }
         prefs->setBool("/options/onimport", false);
         static auto gapp = InkscapeApplication::instance()->gtk_app();
         auto action = gapp->lookup_action("file-open-window");