A protector for a printhead capper is provided. The capper has a capping member configured to cap a printhead, a carrier carrying the capping member, and an actuator for moving the carrier back and forth between a first position at which the capping member is spaced from the printhead and a second position at which the capping member caps the printhead. The protector has a cover member arranged to be engaged by the capping member when the capping member is in the first position.