diff --git a/js/ui/popupMenu.js b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
index b0a919d1b..992084df7 100644
--- a/js/ui/popupMenu.js
+++ b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
@@ -123,12 +123,18 @@ var PopupBaseMenuItem = new Lang.Class({
     },
 
     _onButtonReleaseEvent(actor, event) {
+        if (this._parent && !this._parent.isOpen)
+            return Clutter.EVENT_STOP;
+
         this.actor.remove_style_pseudo_class ('active');
         this.activate(event);
         return Clutter.EVENT_STOP;
     },
 
     _onTouchEvent(actor, event) {
+        if (this._parent && !this._parent.isOpen)
+            return Clutter.EVENT_STOP;
+
         if (event.type() == Clutter.EventType.TOUCH_END) {
             this.actor.remove_style_pseudo_class ('active');
             this.activate(event);
@@ -141,6 +147,9 @@ var PopupBaseMenuItem = new Lang.Class({
     },
 
     _onKeyPressEvent(actor, event) {
+        if (this._parent && !this._parent.isOpen)
+            return Clutter.EVENT_STOP;
+
         let state = event.get_state();
 
         // if user has a modifier down (except capslock and numlock)