diff --git a/dom/base/nsDOMClassInfo.cpp b/dom/base/nsDOMClassInfo.cpp
index 6eabf4eba703..808746e37d68 100644
--- a/dom/base/nsDOMClassInfo.cpp
+++ b/dom/base/nsDOMClassInfo.cpp
@@ -5147,6 +5147,11 @@ nsWindowSH::PreCreate(nsISupports *nativeObj, JSContext *cx,
 
   JSObject *winObj = win->FastGetGlobalJSObject();
   if (!winObj) {
+
+    // See bug 691178 comment 11 for why this is necessary.
+    if (win->IsClosedOrClosing())
+      return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;
+
     NS_ASSERTION(win->GetOuterWindowInternal()->IsCreatingInnerWindow(),
                  "should have a JS object by this point");
     return NS_OK;