diff --git a/layout/mathml/nsMathMLmactionFrame.cpp b/layout/mathml/nsMathMLmactionFrame.cpp
index 94e3de745063..0b895387869a 100644
--- a/layout/mathml/nsMathMLmactionFrame.cpp
+++ b/layout/mathml/nsMathMLmactionFrame.cpp
@@ -122,11 +122,9 @@ nsMathMLmactionFrame::Init(nsIContent*      aContent,
     }
 
     if (NS_MATHML_ACTION_TYPE_NONE == mActionType) {
-      // expected statusline prefix (11ch)...
-      if (11 < value.Length() && 0 == value.Find("statusline#"))
+      if (value.EqualsLiteral("statusline"))
         mActionType = NS_MATHML_ACTION_TYPE_STATUSLINE;
     }
-
   }
 
   // Let the base class do the rest
@@ -368,12 +366,28 @@ nsMathMLmactionFrame::MouseOver()
 {
   // see if we should display a status message
   if (NS_MATHML_ACTION_TYPE_STATUSLINE == mActionType) {
-    nsAutoString value;
-    mContent->GetAttr(kNameSpaceID_None, nsGkAtoms::actiontype_, value);
-    // expected statusline prefix (11ch)...
-    if (11 < value.Length() && 0 == value.Find("statusline#")) {
-      value.Cut(0, 11);
-      ShowStatus(PresContext(), value);
+    // retrieve content from a second child if it exists
+    nsIFrame* childFrame = mFrames.FrameAt(1);
+    if (!childFrame) return;
+
+    nsIContent* content = childFrame->GetContent();
+    if (!content) return;
+
+    // check whether the content is mtext or not
+    if (content->GetNameSpaceID() == kNameSpaceID_MathML &&
+        content->Tag() == nsGkAtoms::mtext_) {
+      // get the text to be displayed
+      content = content->GetFirstChild();
+      if (!content) return;
+
+      const nsTextFragment* textFrg = content->GetText();
+      if (!textFrg) return;
+
+      nsAutoString text;
+      textFrg->AppendTo(text);
+      // collapse whitespaces as listed in REC, section 3.2.6.1
+      text.CompressWhitespace();
+      ShowStatus(PresContext(), text);
     }
   }
 }