diff --git a/layout/generic/nsFrameSelection.h b/layout/generic/nsFrameSelection.h
index a4dbfd617f6..844ec62873d 100644
--- a/layout/generic/nsFrameSelection.h
+++ b/layout/generic/nsFrameSelection.h
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ public:
    *  @param aPoint is relative to the view.
    *  @param aDelay is the timer's interval.
    */
+  /*unsafe*/
   nsresult StartAutoScrollTimer(nsIView *aView,
                                 nsPoint aPoint,
                                 PRUint32 aDelay);
@@ -352,6 +353,7 @@ public:
    * @param aIsSynchronous when PR_TRUE, scrolls the selection into view
    * at some point after the method returns.request which is processed
    */
+  /*unsafe*/
   nsresult ScrollSelectionIntoView(SelectionType aType,
                                    SelectionRegion aRegion,
                                    PRBool aIsSynchronous) const;
@@ -558,7 +560,7 @@ public:
 
   nsIPresShell *GetShell()const  { return mShell; }
 
-  void DisconnectFromPresShell() { mShell = nsnull; }
+  void DisconnectFromPresShell() { StopAutoScrollTimer(); mShell = nsnull; }
 private:
   nsresult TakeFocus(nsIContent *aNewFocus,
                      PRUint32 aContentOffset,
diff --git a/layout/generic/nsSelection.cpp b/layout/generic/nsSelection.cpp
index 17add3f9565..99b5d765e83 100644
--- a/layout/generic/nsSelection.cpp
+++ b/layout/generic/nsSelection.cpp
@@ -246,6 +246,7 @@ public:
                              SelectionDetails **aReturnDetails, SelectionType aType, PRBool aSlowCheck);
   NS_IMETHOD   Repaint(nsPresContext* aPresContext);
 
+  // Note: StartAutoScrollTimer might destroy arbitrary frames, views etc.
   nsresult     StartAutoScrollTimer(nsPresContext *aPresContext,
                                     nsIView *aView,
                                     nsPoint& aPoint,
@@ -257,12 +258,15 @@ public:
 private:
   friend class nsAutoScrollTimer;
 
+  // Note: DoAutoScrollView might destroy arbitrary frames, views etc.
   nsresult DoAutoScrollView(nsPresContext *aPresContext,
                             nsIView *aView,
                             nsPoint& aPoint,
                             PRBool aScrollParentViews);
 
+  // Note: ScrollPointIntoClipView might destroy arbitrary frames, views etc.
   nsresult     ScrollPointIntoClipView(nsPresContext *aPresContext, nsIView *aView, nsPoint& aPoint, PRBool *aDidScroll);
+  // Note: ScrollPointIntoView might destroy arbitrary frames, views etc.
   nsresult     ScrollPointIntoView(nsPresContext *aPresContext, nsIView *aView, nsPoint& aPoint, PRBool aScrollParentViews, PRBool *aDidScroll);
   nsresult     GetViewAncestorOffset(nsIView *aView, nsIView *aAncestorView, nscoord *aXOffset, nscoord *aYOffset);
 
@@ -5084,10 +5088,25 @@ nsTypedSelection::ScrollPointIntoClipView(nsPresContext *aPresContext, nsIView *
 
   if (dx != 0 || dy != 0)
   {
-    // Make sure latest bits are available before we scroll them.
-    aPresContext->GetViewManager()->Composite();
+    nsCOMPtr<nsIPresShell> presShell;
+    GetPresShell(getter_AddRefs(presShell));
+    NS_ASSERTION(presShell, "no pres shell");
 
-    // Now scroll the view!
+    nsWeakView weakView = scrollableView->View();
+
+    // Make sure latest bits are available before we scroll them. This flushes
+    // pending notifications and thus might destroy stuff (bug 421839).
+    // We need to hold a strong ref on the view manager to keep it alive.
+    nsCOMPtr<nsIViewManager> viewManager = aPresContext->GetViewManager();
+    viewManager->Composite();
+
+    if (!weakView.IsAlive()) {
+      return NS_ERROR_NULL_POINTER;
+    }
+
+    if (presShell->IsDestroying()) {
+      return NS_ERROR_NULL_POINTER;
+    }
 
     result = scrollableView->ScrollTo(bounds.x + dx, bounds.y + dy, 0);
 
diff --git a/view/src/nsViewManager.cpp b/view/src/nsViewManager.cpp
index f93029acf8e..16f6b6ccec9 100644
--- a/view/src/nsViewManager.cpp
+++ b/view/src/nsViewManager.cpp
@@ -1764,14 +1764,26 @@ void nsViewManager::UpdateWidgetsForView(nsView* aView)
 {
   NS_PRECONDITION(aView, "Must have view!");
 
+  nsWeakView parentWeakView = aView;
   if (aView->HasWidget()) {
-    aView->GetWidget()->Update();
+    aView->GetWidget()->Update();  // Flushes Layout!
+    if (!parentWeakView.IsAlive()) {
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
-  for (nsView* childView = aView->GetFirstChild();
-       childView;
-       childView = childView->GetNextSibling()) {
+  nsView* childView = aView->GetFirstChild();
+  while (childView) {
+    nsWeakView childWeakView = childView;
     UpdateWidgetsForView(childView);
+    if (NS_LIKELY(childWeakView.IsAlive())) {
+      childView = childView->GetNextSibling();
+    }
+    else {
+      // The current view was destroyed - restart at the first child if the
+      // parent is still alive.
+      childView = parentWeakView.IsAlive() ? aView->GetFirstChild() : nsnull;
+    }
   }
 }