diff --git a/formula/source/ui/dlg/funcutl.cxx b/formula/source/ui/dlg/funcutl.cxx
index 9b4fb3a55be0..83d0eb192549 100644
--- a/formula/source/ui/dlg/funcutl.cxx
+++ b/formula/source/ui/dlg/funcutl.cxx
@@ -337,6 +337,15 @@ void RefEdit::SetReferences(IControlReferenceHandler* pDlg, weld::Frame* pFrame)
         maGetLabelTextForShrinkModeFunc = [pFrame] { return pFrame->get_label(); };
 }
 
+Selection RefEdit::GetSelection() const
+{
+    int nStartPos, nEndPos;
+    if (mxEntry->get_selection_bounds(nStartPos, nEndPos))
+        return Selection(nStartPos, nEndPos);
+
+    return Selection();
+}
+
 OUString RefEdit::GetLabelTextForShrinkMode()
 {
     if (maGetLabelTextForShrinkModeFunc)
diff --git a/include/formula/funcutl.hxx b/include/formula/funcutl.hxx
index 390ae2799c16..3d3d4e6c1e8c 100644
--- a/include/formula/funcutl.hxx
+++ b/include/formula/funcutl.hxx
@@ -117,12 +117,7 @@ public:
         mxEntry->set_position(-1);
     }
 
-    Selection GetSelection() const
-    {
-        int nStartPos, nEndPos;
-        mxEntry->get_selection_bounds(nStartPos, nEndPos);
-        return Selection(nStartPos, nEndPos);
-    }
+    Selection GetSelection() const;
 
     OUString GetLabelTextForShrinkMode();