diff --git a/reactos/base/applications/wordpad/dialogs.c b/reactos/base/applications/wordpad/dialogs.c
index 163ba0576aa..c39be15bf01 100644
--- a/reactos/base/applications/wordpad/dialogs.c
+++ b/reactos/base/applications/wordpad/dialogs.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ AboutDialogProc(HWND hDlg,
                 LPARAM lParam)
 {
     HWND  hLicenseEditWnd;
-    HICON hIcon = NULL;
+    static HICON hIcon = NULL;
     static LPTSTR lpLicense = NULL;
 
     switch (message)