diff --git a/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.cpp b/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.cpp
index 0df5490e48..390c8cf67d 100644
--- a/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.cpp
@@ -1077,3 +1077,10 @@ const std::vector<CN_EDGE> CONNECTIVITY_DATA::GetRatsnestForComponent( FOOTPRINT
 }
 
 
+const NET_SETTINGS* CONNECTIVITY_DATA::GetNetSettings() const
+{
+    if( std::shared_ptr<NET_SETTINGS> netSettings = m_netSettings.lock() )
+        return netSettings.get();
+    else
+        return nullptr;
+}
diff --git a/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.h b/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.h
index 0cfc9d4624..4b327d70cb 100644
--- a/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.h
+++ b/pcbnew/connectivity/connectivity_data.h
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ public:
 
     void SetProgressReporter( PROGRESS_REPORTER* aReporter );
 
-    const NET_SETTINGS* GetNetSettings() const { return m_netSettings.get(); }
+    const NET_SETTINGS* GetNetSettings() const;
 
     bool            HasNetNameForNetCode( int nc ) const { return m_netcodeMap.count( nc ) > 0; }
     const wxString& GetNetNameForNetCode( int nc ) const { return m_netcodeMap.at( nc ); }
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ private:
     PROGRESS_REPORTER*              m_progressReporter;
 
     /// @brief Used to get netclass data when drawing ratsnests
-    std::shared_ptr<NET_SETTINGS> m_netSettings;
+    std::weak_ptr<NET_SETTINGS> m_netSettings;
 
     /// @brief Used to map netcode to net name
     std::map<int, wxString> m_netcodeMap;
diff --git a/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp b/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
index 2a6e02f004..25947a7fab 100644
--- a/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/ratsnest/ratsnest_view_item.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void RATSNEST_VIEW_ITEM::ViewDraw( int aLayer, KIGFX::VIEW* aView ) const
         {
             const wxString& netName = m_data->GetNetNameForNetCode( l.netCode );
 
-            if( netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
+            if( netSettings && netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
                 nc = netSettings->GetCachedEffectiveNetClass( netName ).get();
         }
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void RATSNEST_VIEW_ITEM::ViewDraw( int aLayer, KIGFX::VIEW* aView ) const
         {
             const wxString& netName = m_data->GetNetNameForNetCode( i );
 
-            if( netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
+            if( netSettings && netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
                 nc = netSettings->GetCachedEffectiveNetClass( netName ).get();
         }
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp b/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
index 01e216e455..12680bb08c 100644
--- a/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/router/pns_kicad_iface.cpp
@@ -1749,7 +1749,7 @@ void PNS_KICAD_IFACE::DisplayRatline( const SHAPE_LINE_CHAIN& aRatline, PNS::NET
     {
         const wxString& netName = connectivity->GetNetNameForNetCode( netCode );
 
-        if( netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
+        if( netSettings && netSettings->HasEffectiveNetClass( netName ) )
             nc = netSettings->GetCachedEffectiveNetClass( netName ).get();
     }