diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/tkSimpleDialog.py b/Lib/lib-tk/tkSimpleDialog.py
index 4d11ce0..02ea034 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/tkSimpleDialog.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/tkSimpleDialog.py
@@ -46,8 +46,13 @@
             title -- the dialog title
         '''
         Toplevel.__init__(self, parent)
-        self.transient(parent)
 
+        # If the master is not viewable, don't
+        # make the child transient, or else it
+        # would be opened withdrawn
+        if parent.winfo_viewable():  
+            self.transient(parent)
+ 
         if title:
             self.title(title)