diff --git a/accessible/src/base/nsAccessible.cpp b/accessible/src/base/nsAccessible.cpp
index f3278baff94..90d99b25e93 100644
--- a/accessible/src/base/nsAccessible.cpp
+++ b/accessible/src/base/nsAccessible.cpp
@@ -2045,6 +2045,9 @@ nsAccessible::GetAttributes(nsIPersistentProperties **aAttributes)
 {
   NS_ENSURE_ARG_POINTER(aAttributes);  // In/out param. Created if necessary.
   
+  if (IsDefunct())
+    return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;
+
   nsCOMPtr<nsIContent> content = GetRoleContent(mDOMNode);
   if (!content) {
     return NS_ERROR_FAILURE;