diff --git a/python/gui/auto_generated/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.sip.in b/python/gui/auto_generated/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.sip.in
index e604575a568..94a92fffcc9 100644
--- a/python/gui/auto_generated/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.sip.in
+++ b/python/gui/auto_generated/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.sip.in
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ level group containing recently used algorithms.
 %Docstring
 Sets the processing ``registry`` associated with the view.
 
-If \recentLog is specified then it will be used to create a "Recently used" top
+If ``recentLog`` is specified then it will be used to create a "Recently used" top
 level group containing recently used algorithms.
 %End
 
diff --git a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.cpp b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.cpp
index 229f53be33f..072b0eaaaab 100644
--- a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.cpp
@@ -138,10 +138,13 @@ void QgsProcessingToolboxModel::rebuild()
     repopulateRecentAlgorithms( true );
   }
 
-  const QList< QgsProcessingProvider * > providers = mRegistry->providers();
-  for ( QgsProcessingProvider *provider : providers )
+  if ( mRegistry )
   {
-    addProvider( provider );
+    const QList< QgsProcessingProvider * > providers = mRegistry->providers();
+    for ( QgsProcessingProvider *provider : providers )
+    {
+      addProvider( provider );
+    }
   }
   endResetModel();
 }
@@ -160,6 +163,12 @@ void QgsProcessingToolboxModel::repopulateRecentAlgorithms( bool resetting )
     endRemoveRows();
   }
 
+  if ( !mRegistry )
+  {
+    emit recentAlgorithmAdded();
+    return;
+  }
+
   const QStringList recentAlgIds = mRecentLog->recentAlgorithmIds();
   QList< const QgsProcessingAlgorithm * > recentAlgorithms;
   recentAlgorithms.reserve( recentAlgIds.count() );
@@ -196,6 +205,9 @@ void QgsProcessingToolboxModel::repopulateRecentAlgorithms( bool resetting )
 
 void QgsProcessingToolboxModel::providerAdded( const QString &id )
 {
+  if ( !mRegistry )
+    return;
+
   QgsProcessingProvider *provider = mRegistry->providerById( id );
   if ( !provider )
     return;
diff --git a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.h b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.h
index e70a4c8be50..3bec00d412d 100644
--- a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.h
+++ b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxmodel.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "qgis_gui.h"
 #include <QAbstractItemModel>
 #include <QSortFilterProxyModel>
+#include <QPointer>
 
 class QgsProcessingRegistry;
 class QgsProcessingProvider;
@@ -375,8 +376,8 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsProcessingToolboxModel : public QAbstractItemModel
 
   private:
 
-    QgsProcessingRegistry *mRegistry = nullptr;
-    QgsProcessingRecentAlgorithmLog *mRecentLog = nullptr;
+    QPointer< QgsProcessingRegistry > mRegistry;
+    QPointer< QgsProcessingRecentAlgorithmLog > mRecentLog;
 
     std::unique_ptr< QgsProcessingToolboxModelGroupNode > mRootNode;
     QgsProcessingToolboxModelRecentNode *mRecentNode = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.h b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.h
index 4f8ecc79255..a3d984a6a66 100644
--- a/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.h
+++ b/src/gui/processing/qgsprocessingtoolboxtreeview.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsProcessingToolboxTreeView : public QTreeView
     /**
      * Sets the processing \a registry associated with the view.
      *
-     * If \recentLog is specified then it will be used to create a "Recently used" top
+     * If \a recentLog is specified then it will be used to create a "Recently used" top
      * level group containing recently used algorithms.
      */
     void setRegistry(